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NEW YORK - ESPN and the NFL have reached new licensing agreements that extend ESPN’s NFL Draft rights and add NFL programming to ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer (DTC) service launching August 21, 2025, according to a press release statement. Disney (DIS), currently trading near its 52-week high with a substantial market capitalization of $212.7 billion, continues to strengthen its position as a prominent player in the entertainment industry. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock shows potential upside from current levels.
Under the multi-year extension beginning with the 2026 NFL Draft, ESPN and ABC will continue to produce separate telecasts for Rounds 1-3, with ESPN airing all seven rounds. The draft coverage will also stream on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN’s new DTC service. This strategic expansion aligns with Disney’s robust revenue growth of 5.42% over the last twelve months, generating $94 billion in revenue.
The agreement includes a new daily NFL Draft show on ESPN2 that will run from the day after the Super Bowl through draft day. ESPN can also create additional alternate telecasts across streaming platforms for all rounds of the draft.
In a separate agreement, ESPN’s DTC service will offer select out-of-market NFL preseason games during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Subscribers will be able to bundle NFL+ Premium, which includes NFL Network and NFL RedZone, with ESPN’s DTC service.
The deal enhances ESPN’s digital capabilities, allowing fans to use new features like multiview to watch multiple Monday Night Football broadcasts simultaneously. The agreement also provides for deeper personalization with interactive features for fantasy football, sports betting information, and integrated game statistics.
Disney+ will receive additional NFL content, including potential select NFL simulcasts and highlight rights for shows like Vibe Check and SportsCenter+.
ESPN’s upcoming DTC service will offer the network’s full suite of channels and services directly to consumers, featuring an enhanced ESPN App with integrated game statistics, betting information, fantasy sports, and personalized content. With an impressive EBITDA of $19.1 billion, Disney continues to invest in digital transformation. For deeper insights into Disney’s financial health and growth potential, including exclusive ProTips and comprehensive analysis, visit InvestingPro, where you’ll find detailed research reports and expert recommendations.
In other recent news, ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, announced the launch of its new direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21. This service will provide access to ESPN’s full suite of networks and content, aligning with the start of major sports seasons. Additionally, Disney has secured a $1.6 billion deal to make ESPN the exclusive U.S. home for WWE Premium Live Events starting in 2026. This agreement will bring major wrestling events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam to ESPN’s streaming platform. Furthermore, ESPN has reached a non-binding agreement to acquire NFL Network and other media assets from the National Football League in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. This acquisition includes NFL Network, RedZone Channel, and NFL Fantasy, along with a licensing agreement for certain NFL content. In a separate development, Morgan Stanley raised its price target for Walt Disney to $140, maintaining an Overweight rating. The investment bank highlighted Disney’s potential for significant EPS growth if economic conditions remain favorable.
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