ESPN Acquires NFL Fantasy and Other Assets After Betting App Upgrade

he agreement includes NFL Network, RedZone (via linear pay TV distribution), and NFL Fantasy.

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: August 7, 2025 2:57 PM EDT • 2 minute read

ESPN Acquires NFL Fantasy and Other Assets After Betting App Upgrade — Pictured: The ESPN logo. Photo by Kirby Lee via Imagn Images.

In a landmark billion-dollar deal, ESPN will acquire key NFL media assets, signaling a significant shift in the sports media and fantasy football landscape. The agreement, which includes NFL Network, RedZone (via linear pay TV distribution), and NFL Fantasy, will deepen ESPN’s footprint in the NFL ecosystem.

As part of the transaction, the NFL will receive a 10% equity stake in ESPN, aligning the two powerhouse brands more closely than ever. The deal unfolds across two agreements: one grants ESPN complete control over NFL Network, RedZone, and NFL Fantasy, which is expected to combine with ESPN’s fantasy football platform. The second gives ESPN licensing rights to additional NFL content, which includes seven regular-season games and expanded programming for NFL Network.

The strategic move follows recent fantasy sports and betting integrations and positions ESPN to lead the convergence of sports media, fantasy, and gaming. The NFL team owners' final approval is still pending.

ESPN fantasy sports gets betting upgrade

ESPN BET, the sports betting platform backed by ESPN and PENN Entertainment, is introducing a new feature designed to personalize the betting experience for fantasy sports fans. Dubbed FanCenter, the update integrates ESPN Fantasy Football data directly into the ESPN BET app. It's another move to try to compete with the best sports betting sites.

With this new functionality, users can link their ESPN accounts to automatically sync their fantasy rosters into a personalized “For You” page within the app. This integration allows players to monitor fantasy teams while also getting tailored betting content and insights.

“We’ve been focused on increasing the visibility of ESPN BET across the ESPN ecosystem, such as showcasing odds in stories and box scores and expanding the availability of markets within the ESPN app to include player and game props,” Aaron LaBerge, CTO and Head of Interactive at PENN Entertainment, told The New York Post. “Now we’re extending that connectivity to the fantasy product with a really innovative feature, tapping into the massive ESPN fantasy userbase and streamlining the process for players to double down on their rosters with just a few taps.”

ESPN plans betting tie-in to upcoming streaming service

Following its fantasy sports and betting crossover, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro recently revealed that the company’s upcoming streaming service will also include various betting tie-ins.

The streaming app is planned to launch in the fall at a competitive price of $29.99 per month. In addition to providing premium sporting content, Piatro hinted that it will also feature significant betting features for fans.

PENN Entertainment is also a major player in this rollout. Under a multi-year partnership, PENN holds exclusive rights to the ESPN BET brand. According to PENN’s CTO, Aaron LaBerge, the launch represents a “first-in-market integration,” offering a unique watch-and-bet experience.

Written by:
Ziv Chen

Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.