NFL Network May Partner Up With ESPN

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, the NFL is "exploring a possible partnership" of the NFL Network and ESPN. As reported by The Sacramento Business Journal:The report says that NFL Network president and chief executive officer Steve Bornstein has been engaged in "high-level discussions" with Disney executives in recent months. Among others rumored to have been involved with the talks are NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Robert Iger, president and CEO of the Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS), ESPN's parent company.The report offers one possible scenario in which the NFL Network would combine with ESPN Classic. ESPN could then add to the number of games broadcasted on the NFL Network, which is currently eight per season. This would help the network increase subscription fees.  Although the report does confirm that talks have been on-going, it adds there is no reason to believe a deal is imminent. OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK Rays May Delay Referendum on New Downtown Stadium - The Biz of Baseball MLB/MLBPA Committee Holds First Meeting on Bat Safety - The Biz of Baseball Biz of Baseball Organizational Report - LA Dodgers - The Biz of Baseball Portable, Battery-Driven CT Scanner for Bats to Be Unveiled - The Biz of Baseball MLB Launches "Welcome Back Veterans" Initiative - The Biz of Baseball Sunday MLB on TBS: Comments from Red Sox/Cards Game - The Biz of Baseball The 2008 Playoffs: Where the Revival of the NBA's Two Flagship Franchises Happened - The Biz of Basketball Olympic Free Agents? - The Biz of Basketball Tim Donaghy's Tales - The Biz of Basketball Ex-Ref Donaghy Claims NBA Playoff Games Were Altered. See Video of David Stern's Response - The Biz of Basketball Pistons Name Michael Curry as Head Coach - The Biz of Basketball Judge Rules on Motions Filed in Sonics Trial - The Biz of Basketball AEG Reaches 5-Year Agreement with Blazers to Run Rose Garden Arena - The Biz of Basketball Ducks owner Henry Samueli Suspended by NHL - The Biz of Hockey NHL 2K9, First Officially Licensed Game by NHL and NHLPA for Wii, Coming this Fall - The Biz of Hockey Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey NBC Reports 6.8 Million Viewers for Game 6. Up 111% from 2006 - The Biz of Hockey Nick Kappel is a staff member for the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network's Author Profiles