That the NFL and ESPN have been talking about a deal that would give the league a stake in the network while ESPN wopuuld operate NFL Network and NFL Red Zone is not news. The talks have been ongoing in various stages for years.
That the deal — as The Athletic, CNBC, and Puck all reported this past week — is finally on the verge of being punched into the end zone is huge news.
If it gets done before the start of the NFL season in September, it will have an immediate impact now and in the future on how fans consume the most popular sport and television programming in the United States.