ESPN acquires rights to NFL Network & WWE

In a groundbreaking move, ESPN has secured major deals with both the NFL and WWE, significantly bolstering its content portfolio ahead of its direct-to-consumer streaming service launch on August 21, 2025. The NFL agreement sees ESPN acquiring NFL Network, RedZone, and NFL Fantasy in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN, integrating these assets into its new $29.99/month streaming platform while expanding NFL content across Disney+ and Hulu.

ESPN struck a five-year, $1.6 billion deal with WWE to exclusively stream premium live events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam in the U.S. starting in 2026, enhancing its appeal to sports entertainment fans.

These strategic partnerships position ESPN as a dominant force in sports media, combining NFL’s premier football content and WWE’s passionate fan base to drive subscriber growth and redefine fan engagement.