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Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) and the National Football League are in advanced discussions that could result in the NFL taking an equity stake in ESPN.
As part of a possible deal, ESPN would take control of NFL Media, which includes the NFL Network and the league would acquire an equity stake in ESPN, according to a NY Post report late Friday, which cited unidentified sources. It still may take months for any deal to be finalized. ESPN and the NFL declined to comment to the paper.
While the idea of ESPN-NFL pact has been talked about previously, talks between the parties have advanced to the point that owners and the Players Association have been informed about the conversations, according the NY Post report.
NFL Media includes the league’s production unit, NFL Films, the football league’s cable networks, the NFL Network and RedZone, NFL+ and NFL.com.
Sources also confirmed to The Atlantic on Saturday about advanced talks between the NFL and ESPN that would give the NFL a stake in the sports network.
The reports come after CNBC reported in July that ESPN is said to have held talks with the National Basketball Association and NFL as it looked for potential strategic partners in its business. ESPN talked with the leagues about a variety of new partnerships and investment structures.
