ESPN and the NFL are helping to rewrite the playbook for keeping sports-media sustainable. In an unorthodox maneuver, the league will take a minority stake in the giant Disney sports outlet, which will gain control over NFL Network and the NFL RedZone highlights service,

ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), is set to take over NFL Network and several other league-owned media assets, including NFL RedZone and NFL Fantasy, in a groundbreaking equity-for-assets deal with the National Football League (NFL).

ESPN’s long-awaited direct-to-consumer streaming service is coming soon. And it’s adding one of America’s favorite sports shows: NFL RedZone.