ESPN acquiring NFL Network

[snowcraig2.0]

ESPN to get NFL Network, rights to RedZone from NFL for equity stake

ESPN is acquiring the NFL Network and other NFL media assets, including the linear rights to the league's popular RedZone channel, in a deal that will see the NFL get a 10% equity stake in the all-sports network, it was announced.

www.espn.com

 

[HopefulHawk]

If only we could trust ESPN to not screw up the Redzone. They won't be able to help themselves from trying to make it "better".

 

[jbclone10]

This sucks. ESPN is awful. Here come the crappy analysts.

 

[jbclone10]

How many more Mel Kipers can they find to ruin the draft?

 

[Gonzo]

I thought ESPN was hemorrhaging money?

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I thought ESPN was hemorrhaging money?

They are. It's an equity deal.

 

[RING4CY]

There goes seven hours of commercial-free football.

 

[ClonerJams]

Hosted by Stephen A!

 

[Clonehomer]

And this means the price of ESPN streaming service will go from $30 / month to $50 / month.

 

[PickSix]

If only we could trust ESPN to not screw up the Redzone. They won't be able to help themselves from trying to make it "better".

They’ll probably hire someone to just scream as the action is unfolding.

 

[Clonehomer]

Wonder how Rich Eisen feels about this. He seemed to have made a good deal for himself getting away from the ESPN machine. And now he’s sucked back in.

 

[Clonehomer]

If only we could trust ESPN to not screw up the Redzone. They won't be able to help themselves from trying to make it "better".

It does say in the article that the NFL will continue to produce the Redzone channel. Although ESPN will own the name. This seems like it could end up messy at some point.

So was Scott Hansen an employee of the NFL or NFL network all this time?

 

[engineer_doug]

It will be interesting to see how the NFL gets formally involved in the current college athletics environment.

 

[JP4CY]

Would have preferred anyone else.

 

[madguy30]

Would have preferred anyone else.

CBS is one that I can actually see being on par or improving.

Hey other networks: see CBS? Be more like CBS.

 

[BigJCy]

They need to have NFL Network show the old school NFL Films 30 minute shows hosted by Steve Sabol. Use to watch those all the time as a kid.

 

[MeanDean]

It will be interesting to see how the NFL gets formally involved in the current college athletics environment.

I was going to comment, "Now they can just merge the SEC right in with the NFL."

 

[CYdTracked]

Heard Rich Eisen on Dan Patrick the other week talking about him going back to ESPN. Rich is supposedly going to be doing a new podcast reminiscing of the early days of Sportscenter and will be bringing back some original people for some interviews and he extended Dan an invitation to be his first guest for that. It was an on the spot offer while on live air and you could tell Dan had to pause for a second before telling Rich no thanks so must still be some bad blood there with Dan and ESPN.

That bit was right around the 11:40 mark

 

[FinalFourCy]

Wonder how Rich Eisen feels about this. He seemed to have made a good deal for himself getting away from the ESPN machine. And now he’s sucked back in.

Probably pretty good given he’s moving his show to ESPN, and will be hosting a new espn show

 

[jdoggivjc]

If only we could trust ESPN to not screw up the Redzone. They won't be able to help themselves from trying to make it "better".

The octo-box will become the Ocho-box on ESPN8... because that didn't get old 2 decades ago.