The NFL’s top brass are reportedly furious over Disney-owned ESPN, FOX, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s plans to launch a new joint sports streaming service in the fall.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Chief Business Officer Brian Rolapp were told about the joint venture just hours before it was announced publicly, according to Puck News (a paywalled publication).
The executives, described as feeling ‘blindsided’ and ‘left in the dark,’ have had their lawyers examine the league’s contract with ESPN and FOX for a way to squash the endeavor. So far, nothing useful has been discovered, according to the report.
While the streaming service looks like a dream come true for sports fans, it could possibly undermine the NFL’s expensive existing cable TV deals.
The companies unveiled plans for the streaming service — which will bundle together their cable channels like ESPN, FOX, Fox Sports, TNT, and TBS, along with other select streaming content — last week.
The service’s price and exact launch date aren’t known at this time.
Correction: The story mistakenly said Disney owned FOX. Disney only owns 21st Century Fox.
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