As negotiations unfold between the NFL and ESPN for a new TV rights agreement, a substantial gap in financial expectations has emerged.
According to Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand, the initial disparity stood at about $1 billion each year. At this juncture, neither party appears willing to budge from their positions.
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio revealed that the NFL’s original request was $3.5 billion per year, whereas ESPN proposed $2.4 billion annually.
A recent deal worth $15.2 billion was inked between the NFL and ESPN, ensuring the continuation of Monday Night Football on the network.
Per CNBC’s Alex Sherman, the NFL is aiming to double the revenue it garners from broadcasting contracts entirely.
In ongoing private negotiations, it is hinted that NBC, CBS, and Fox may agree on increments close to 100%, unlike Disney, which currently pays a premium compared to the three major networks for its Monday Night Football coverage.
Reportedly, Disney has shown reluctance to meet the NFL’s demand of nearly $3.8 billion per year for the new contract. Disney CEO Bob Chapek indicated potential resistance to the NFL’s proposed price during the company’s recent earnings call.
