ESPN will continue to broadcast the NFL draft, and the network has also obtained new digital rights for its upcoming direct-to-consumer service.
The two agreements were announced Wednesday morning, two hours before the Walt Disney Company announced its third-quarter earnings.
It also came after the NFL and ESPN announced a nonbinding agreement Tuesday night in which ESPN will acquire the NFL Network and other league media assets while the league gets a 10% equity stake in ESPN.
ESPN has aired the NFL draft since 1980, when the league’s annual meeting to select pro prospects from the college ranks took place at the New York Sheraton Hotel. Back then, the draft was two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) and took 12 rounds.
Next year’s draft will be in Pittsburgh and is expected to attract massive crowds over three days from Thursday night to Saturday afternoon. The first round has had its own night since 2010.