ESPN exploring deal to add Scott Hansen to its arsenal of NFL programming

ESPN is getting ready to make a major move. 

On Wednesday, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that ESPN and the NFL are nearing a deal for ESPN to acquire NFL Media. This deal will enable ESPN to launch a new "direct-to-consumer product this fall," called “The Next Era,” at $29.99 per month.

"While a contract between ESPN and the NFL is not signed, the two sides have been closing in on talks that first began four years ago, heated up a little more than a year and half ago and now are the closest they have ever been, with the league even informing its owners they may be needed for a vote on it early next month, as first reported by Sports Business Journal," Marchand writes. 

He further added that the NFL has been looking to "unload many of its media assets," which includes the NFL Network and Red Zone channel. Specifically, as it concerns the Red Zone channel, this would be a huge boost for ESPN, with millions of viewers tuning in each week to watch "7 hours of commercial free football," with Scott Hanson narrating the happenings in all of that week's games.

"The exact amount of money or equity that Disney/ESPN would pay is not yet known, but it will be enormous," Marchand adds.