NFL commissioner Roger Goodell discussed the future of RedZone; Disney has had some discussions about potential sports bundles with other companies; and ESPN will reportedly assume the NFL Network studio lease. Plus news on Disney subscribers, when the ESPN-NFL deal could close and Hulu.
Goodell comments on future of RedZone
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” Wednesday that the league’s NFL RedZone whiparound show will “stay the same” despite ESPN deal to acquire linear distribution rights to the program. RedZone, Goodell said, will “continue to be produced right here in [the NFL’s Inglewood, Calif. studio]. It will be the NFL RedZone. I don’t think fans will see any difference to that.”
While the RedZone program will not change, Goodell noted that because ESPN has “purchased the RedZone name,” the network will “be able to utilize that for other sports — college football and other things — and I think that could be an exciting thing for our fans.”
ESPN has long produced a variety of whiparound programming from “MLB Squeeze Play” and “NHL Frozen Frenzy” to the long-ago “NBA Fastbreak Tuesday.” The company gained the right to launch a new NBA whiparound show as part of its 11-year media rights deal with the league. With ownership of the “RedZone” trademark, there is a possibility that ESPN could opt to use the name on other sports or properties, although no official announcements have been made in that regard. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro told Sports Business Journal that it is “currently being contemplated.”
NFL RedZone is entering its 17th season on the air this September and will feature longtime host Scott Hanson, who recently signed a contract extension to continue anchoring the program. The NFL RedZone channel currently reaches fewer than 10 million homes, according to a report from Joe Flint and Isabella Simonetti of The Wall Street Journal.
Disney exploring bundling sports offerings from other companies
Disney CEO Bob Iger said during Wednesday’s earnings call that the company is exploring potential bundles of sports offerings with other companies, and there have already been discussions to that effect. “The more sports can be offered in one destination for the consumer, or if we can improve the ease of use for consumers … if we can help consumers in that regard, we’re certainly going to try.”
The new ESPN direct-to-subscriber app will already bundle NFL+ Premium, which includes NFL RedZone, starting this season.
ESPN and parent company Disney previously worked with Fox Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery on the Venu Sports joint streaming venture, but it was unable to go to market due to a preliminary injunction obtained by Fubo after expressing antitrust concerns. The media conglomerates ultimately chose to discontinue the proposed service and later agreed to make an aggregate cash payment of $220 million to Fubo.
ESPN reportedly assuming NFL Network studio lease in Inglewood
As part of its broader acquisition of NFL Media, ESPN is assuming the lease of the 75,000 square-foot facilities that house studios for NFL Network and NFL RedZone, according to a report by Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. It remains unknown how many years remain on the lease or if ESPN would have the ability to utilize the facility for productions outside of the NFL.
NFL Media moved to the Inglewood headquarters prior to the 2021 season after previously being located in Culver City. Beginning last summer, the company moved its “Good Morning Football” studio program to the locale featuring personalities such as Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt and Akbar Gbajabiamila. The facility also has studios for programs such as “NFL GameDay” and “NFL Total Access,” along with five soundstages, an outdoor miniature football field and a podcast space. NFL Media produced studio pregame, halftime and postgame programming from the facility for the Netflix NFL Christmas Day doubleheader last year.
ESPN recently shuttered production of “SportsCenter” from its Los Angeles studios located across the street from Crypto.com Arena. The “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown” studio programs have continued airing from the building, although it remains unknown if that will continue going into next season. The final episodes of “SportsCenter” from Los Angeles aired this past May after 16 years in the facility and featured anchors Linda Cohn, Stan Verrett and Neil Everett.
Plus: Disney subscribers, ESPN-NFL, Hulu
- Disney is no longer going to report the number of streaming subscribers or average revenue per user (ARPU) for Disney+ and Hulu starting in Q1 2026, and ESPN+ beginning in Q4 2025. Within its most recent quarterly earnings report, ESPN+ paid subscribers stayed flat at 24.1 million, but average monthly revenue per paid subscriber diminished by 3% to $6.40 due to lower advertising revenue.
- Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said the company’s deal with NFL Media will likely not close until the end of next calendar year and that it will “be about a nickel accretive before purchase accounting.” Furthermore, Disney did not offer updated guidance for FY 2026, something that will occur on the earnings call for next quarter.
- Disney will be “fully integrating” Hulu into the Disney+ streaming service next year, the company announced on Wednesday. Although a standalone Hulu subscription option will still be available, the application will no longer exist independently, and its live television subscribers will move to Fubo amid a proposed joint venture subject to regulatory approval.
