For nearly half a century, ESPN has been the go-to channel for NFL draft coverage, and this tradition shows no signs of slowing down.
According to John Ourand of Puck, ESPN is likely on the verge of renewing its agreement with the NFL to continue broadcasting the draft, a tradition it has upheld for 46 years.
There seems to be little anxiety about this renewal not coming through. Mollie Callihane from Sports Business Journal notes that ESPN remains optimistic about finalizing a deal, approaching this year's draft with its usual confidence and preparation.
The anticipated agreement might come with an interesting development. Ourand mentions that the NFL plans to sell international streaming rights to a U.S.-based platform, sparking interest from major players like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon.
ESPN's coverage of the draft is complemented by a separate telecast on ABC. The event is also simultaneously aired by the NFL Network, although this might change if a new deal grants ESPN greater control over the league’s internal broadcasting operations.
