ESPN made the announcement that it was purchasing the NFL Network at the beginning of August. The NFL Network’s talent is still in limbo because the transaction hasn’t been finalized yet because it needs government approval.
No one knows how ESPN will use NFL Network employees, which shows will stay on the network, which will disappear, or how those employees will be integrated into ESPN. Again, nothing is official, but ESPN has stated that it plans to maintain the NFL Network as a distinct channel.
Ian Rapoport On ESPN Buying NFL Network
On this week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina, I asked senior insider Ian Rapoport, who is one of the NFL Network’s spokespersons, about the uncertainty he faces.
Rapoport said: “It’s been interesting because we’ve known for years that the league was either looking to take on a partner, which is where I thought it was going, and then it was a sale essentially to ESPN and Disney,”
“So we’ve been in this place for years and I don’t know that my job has changed very much.
“It’s always like, you hear a player be like, ‘Well, I’m just focused on what I can control. I’m just trying to do my job.’ The reality is, mentally that’s the only way to do it because it’s hard to think about all the what-ifs.”
“When the release came out from the NFL and ESPN, I was like, ‘All right, good.’
“First of all, good, because I do think it’ll be really good. Second of all, the uncertainty a little bit was not over, but was coming to end. Good. I thought the outcome hopefully will help everyone. ESPN has done an awesome job in all the sports things. So, hopefully it’ll be good for all of us who work at NFL Network.
“I’m so hyper-focused on so many different little work things and big work things, I honestly only think of it when my wife will ask, or a friend will ask or when I’ll do one of these. I like my job and I like doing my job, so I hope I get to do it in some form or fashion because it’s really fun and awesome and enjoyable. And I just hope it’s a really good thing.”
“From everything that’s been said publicly, the NFL Network is still gonna be around, still gonna exist, still gonna have plenty of shows and programming. Shows are really good. I also happen to be on a lot of them. I don’t know that this is a bad thing, and I think it has the potential to be a really good thing.”
