NFL Network Just Dropped a Game-Changing 2025 Season Lineup — Here’s What’s New

The NFL and ESPN have confirmed a preliminary agreement that would transfer ownership of NFL Network, NFL RedZone and several digital properties (including NFL.com) to ESPN in exchange for a 10 percent equity stake in the sports giant’s parent company, ESPN Inc. The landmark deal—expected to close before the 2025 regular season kickoff—promises to reshape how football fans access live games, studio shows and on-demand highlights. What the acquisition means for viewers • NFL Network stays on the channel guide—for now. Executives from both sides say the linear network will remain available on existing cable, satellite and virtual MVPD packages through at least the 2026 draft, with distribution negotiations handled by ESPN’s affiliate-sales team. • RedZone moves under the ESPN + umbrella in 2026. Sources familiar with the talks say the whip-around channel will be offered as a $5 add-on to ESPN +, and bundled with the service’s “Sunday Ticket Lite” out-of-market package now housed on YouTube TV. • Preseason coverage continues uninterrupted in 2025. This week’s 49-game preseason slate (Aug. 7-25) remains on NFL Network, including tonight’s Browns-Panthers matchup featuring rookie QB Shedeur Sanders. ESPN and ABC will simulcast six selected games while discussions about future sharing agreements proceed. Why the NFL is selling Commissioner Roger Goodell called the equity swap “a strategic bet on streaming scale.” By tapping ESPN’s 25 million-plus ESPN + subs and Disney’s global ad-tech stack, the league hopes to expand international reach and accelerate direct-to-consumer growth without shouldering the full cost of linear distribution. Why ESPN wants in • Year-round football inventory: Owning NFL Network provides 365-day shoulder programming to complement ESPN’s Monday Night Football package. • Advertising leverage: Combining live NFL rights with college football, the NBA and the CFP gives ESPN unprecedented bargaining power with advertisers seeking premium, brand-safe inventory. • Data + merchandising: Control of NFL.com and the league’s fantasy platforms delivers first-party fan data ESPN can monetize across ESPN Bet and Disney’s retail ecosystem. What’s next The deal requires approval from league owners (vote expected Aug. 21) and U.S. regulators, but analysts say it faces few antitrust hurdles because Disney does not currently operate an all-NFL channel. If green-lit on schedule, rebranded graphics and cross-promotion could appear as early as Week 1’s Thursday opener. How to watch NFL Network and RedZone today Cable/satellite: Check channel finder; most carriers place NFL Network in sports-tier bundles. Streaming: Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu Live and DirecTV Stream all carry NFL Network; RedZone is available via each service’s sports add-on. Mobile: NFL+ still offers live local and primetime games on phones/tablets plus RedZone for $14.99/month—but pricing may change after the acquisition. Bottom line The ESPN-NFL Network marriage signals the next phase of the streaming wars, fusing the league’s most popular shoulder content with the industry’s largest sports platform. For fans, the short-term impact is minimal, but by 2026 expect a unified app experience where Monday Night Football, RedZone, fantasy stats and draft coverage live under one digital roof—complete with an ESPN logo on the door.