ESPN, NFL agree to extend NFL Draft rights, add content to upcoming DTC service

ESPN and the NFL have reached new licensing agreements, extending ESPN’s NFL Draft rights and, separately, adding NFL programming and content to ESPN’s upcoming Direct-to-Consumer service, as well as to Disney (DIS)+. The agreement also includes the opportunity for fans to bundle ESPN’s DTC service with NFL+ Premium. Beginning with the 2026 NFL Draft, Disney+ and Hulu will also stream ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes’ trio of Draft presentations. All offerings will be available on ESPN’s DTC service. Additional alternate NFL Draft presentations from ESPN will be available on the same streaming platforms, as will a new daily show dedicated to the NFL Draft. The new show, which will air on ESPN2 most days, will launch the day following the Super Bowl and continue through that year’s Draft. More highlights: ESPN and ABC will each produce telecasts for Rounds 1-3 on Thursday and Friday-a staple of ESPN’s presentation since 2019. On Saturday, ESPN will continue to air Rounds 4-7, with ABC simulcasting the network’s coverage. ESPN can add other alternate telecasts across streaming platforms for Rounds 1-7. Premier football shows, College GameDay and NFL Live, will continue to be on-site from the NFL Draft. ESPN Radio will continue its live broadcast of the NFL Draft. Separately, ESPN and the NFL have reached an agreement to expand the NFL experience across ESPN’s DTC service and Disney+. The agreement includes rights for additional NFL content for ESPN as well as robust interactive features to deepen the experience for fans. ESPN’s DTC offering will also stream select out-of-market NFL preseason games during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. ESPN will also be able to sell and bundle NFL+ Premium, the League’s DTC service that launched in 2022, with ESPN’s DTC service, which gives fans the ability to watch NFL Network and NFL RedZone through the NFL+ Premium offering.