According to Deadline, ESPN, which is also owned by Disney, has finally announced its acquisition of the NFL Network along with other NFL media assets. The agreement was announced in Disney’s quarterly earnings report on Tuesday. This will give ESPN’s standalone streaming service new programming, including seven regular-season games that were previously exclusive to the NFL Network.

This acquisition is a major breakthrough for Disney. According to Deadline, Disney has already been in the sports streaming business for several years, with their acquisition of Major League Baseball. The new merger gives Disney a large share of the most popular sports entity in the United States, while the NFL now owns 10% of the sports media company.

According to Deadline, this agreement includes ESPN owning the rights to the RedZone brand and the NFL RedZone channel for pay-TV operators. The NFL will continue to operate and produce programming on its channel and digital rights owned by the NFL.

Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, said to Deadline, “Today’s announcement paves the way for the world’s leading sports media brand and America’s most popular sport to deliver an even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can. Commissioner Goodell and the NFL have built outstanding media assets, and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth and value proposition of Disney’s streaming ecosystem.”

Having launched in 2003, the NFL Network experienced a few drawbacks in its initial days. Overall, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had nothing but praise for the network’s run, stating, “Whether it was debuting Thursday Night football, televising the {NFL} Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways,” via Deadline.

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro described this news as “an exciting day for sports fans,” via Deadline. Merging the NFL with ESPN creates “a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game – anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN’s digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.”