ESPN Acquires NFL Network and Redzone While Adding Ads to Redzone Coverage
With the new NFL season just hours away from finally being upon us and blessing our eyeballs with catches, tackles and blitzes. The NFL and ESPN dropped a bombshell. ESPN has acquired NFL Network and Redzone while adding ads to Redzone coverage.
As one can see it was quite the acquisition announcement Wednesday afternoon. This move will not just affect NFL Network and the fan favorite, Redzone. The sports network giant would also take control of other additional NFL assets. ESPN’s Adam Schefter hit social media to reveal,
“ESPN and the National Football League announced a non-binding agreement under which ESPN will acquire NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL — including NFL’s linear RedZone Channel, and NFL Fantasy — in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN.”
Redzone’s host Scott Hanson also confirmed the news regarding the National Football League and ESPN. He states,
“It’s official. (And for those wondering: yes, I will still be hosting RedZone.)
Fired up for a great season! Optimistic about this new partnership!
(And I get to call Adam Schefter “colleague” for the 2nd time in my career… nice bonus!).”
Therefore, we now enter a new era. A timeline where seven hours of commercial-free football no longer exists. Another relic of sports.
NFL RedZone had long been a football fan’s dream: from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. every Sunday, the live broadcast providing a look in during the most pivotal moments of every game. Allowing die-hard fans to experience every touchdown, field goal, fumble, interception, sack and big play in real time.
ESPN Acquires NFL Network and Redzone While Adding Ads to Redzone Coverage
Nevertheless, on The Pat McAfee Show, Hanson confirmed that Redzone would now feature commercials for the very first time. He also added,
“The business folks handle the business and I have no say over different elements that could or could not be in the show. When you see me come on the air, we’re gonna hit the Octobox, we’ve got eight games in the early window, taking you around to all the different cities. And then when we get into it ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s been more than 250 days since the first full NFL Sunday, but we are back! And seven hours of RedZone football starts now.'”
So no, it is not Scott’s fault. He’s done beautifully over the years. However, it remains to be seen how fans will react to this new ad-filled broadcast. Will they roll with it, or cancel in solidarity. We will see.
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