March 2025 launch of ESPN on Disney+<\/a> in Australia and New Zealand, a game-changing move that brought 10,000+ hours of live sports, including NBA, NHL, UFC, and MLB, into the Disney+ ecosystem.<\/p>\nWith the season only finished at the time of the announcement, ESPN remained relatively tight-lipped on the extent of the NFL\u2019s coverage on the new platform. Now, B&T understands that, in addition to at least six weekly games, the new agreement could include an increased NFL coverage slate, NFL RedZone, NFL Fantasy and NFL Network and will see the platform feature the 2026 Super Bowl for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an exciting day for sports fans,\u201d said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN. \u201cBy combining these NFL media assets with ESPN\u2019s reach and innovation, we\u2019re creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game\u2014anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN\u2019s digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Australian audiences, this could mean unprecedented access to one of America\u2019s most lucrative and popular sporting leagues, all via a single subscription service.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,\u201d said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. \u201cWhether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The Network\u2019s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NFL will retain control of its other digital assets, including NFL Films, NFL+, and NFL.com, as well as its podcasts and the 32 team websites.<\/p>\n
The agreement, still pending approvals from NFL owners and regulators, reinforces Disney CEO Bob Iger\u2019s streaming-first strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s announcement paves the way for\u00a0the world\u2019s leading sports media brand\u00a0and America\u2019s most popular sport to deliver an\u00a0even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can,\u201d said Robert A. Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. \u201cCommissioner Goodell and the NFL have built outstanding media assets,\u00a0and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide\u00a0viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth\u00a0and value\u00a0proposition of Disney\u2019s streaming ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Disney\u2019s local ambitions don\u2019t stop there. Executives have previously flagged interest in acquiring tier-one Australian sports rights, and with the NRL\u2019s broadcast deal expiring in 2026, all eyes will be on how Disney positions itself ahead of mid-2025 negotiations.<\/p>\n
Despite ESPN\u2019s integration into Disney+, Foxtel remains a key partner, with current negotiations underway to ensure continued access via Kayo and traditional pay TV. B&T understands that expanded content will be available across all platforms on which ESPN is available.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe enjoy a long-standing relationship with Disney\/ESPN and expect this to continue,\u201d a Foxtel spokesperson told B&T earlier this year. \u201cOnly a day after the Super Bowl and on the eve of some great NBA action, we\u2019re proud to confirm that we will continue to share ESPN content on Foxtel and Kayo.\u201d<\/p>\n
With streaming giants racing to capture the live sports audience, this move gives Disney+ an edge not just with die-hard NFL fans but with broader audiences seeking a \u201cone-stop shop\u201d for premium content.<\/p>\n
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