The league and ESPN officially announced the closing of the deal Saturday night after the Justice Department and other non-U.S. antitrust authorities completed their reviews.
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ESPN acquired NFL Network, NFL Fantasy and the rights to distribute the RedZone channel to cable and satellite operators and the league will gain a 10% ownership stake in ESPN.
“With the closure, we will begin integrating NFL employees into ESPN in the coming months,” ESPN and the NFL said in a joint statement. “As we look to the future, NFL fans can expect expanded NFL programming, greater access to NFL Network, innovative Fantasy experiences and unparalleled coverage of America’s most popular sport.”
The Athletic first reported the approval from government regulators.
Viewers are not expected to notice any changes to NFL Network until April, when NFL Media employees become part of ESPN.
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NFL Network, which has nearly 50 million subscribers, will be included in ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product, which launched last August, shortly after the deal was first announced.
The NFL RedZone channel will be distributed by ESPN to cable and satellite operators. However, the NFL will continue to own, operate and produce the channel, as well as retain the rights to distribute it digitally. ESPN would also get the rights to the RedZone brand, meaning RedZone channels for college football and basketball or other sports could appear in the future.
NFL Fantasy Football will merge with ESPN Fantasy Football, giving ESPN the league’s official fantasy football game.
NFL Network will continue to broadcast seven games per season. Four of ESPN’s games, including some that overlap on Monday nights, will move to NFL Network. ESPN will license three additional games that will air on the NFL Network.
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The NFL has regained the rights to four international games, which it is expected to put up for bid. The league has discussed having each of its 32 teams play at least one international game per season if the schedule expands to 18 regular-season games.
The league will continue to own and operate NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com, the official websites of all 32 teams, the NFL Podcast Network and the NFL FAST Channel (a free, advertising-supported streaming channel).
With the sale, ESPN becomes 72% owned by ABC Inc., an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, 18% by Hearst and 10% by the NFL.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl