ESPN obtains RedZone, other media assets from NFL in blockbuster deal, per report

ESPN obtains RedZone, other media assets from NFL in blockbuster deal, per report

In one of the biggest media deals this century, ESPN and the National Football League agreed to a deal that will send popular entities such as RedZone over to the network,according to The Athletic. The deal, according to the report, could be worth billions and is expected to be formally announced next week. ESPN is gearing to start its direct-to-consumer service within weeks, which consumers are expected to pay nearly $30 a month, allowing buyers to cut cable subscriptions even further as people have more choices than ever in how they consume content featuring the nation's most popular and attended spectator sport. The network is expected to absorb the aforementioned RedZone, NFL Network, headquartered in Inglewood, California, and to take on its slate of games this season as well as the league's popular fantasy football franchises. It is not expected that NFL Films is part of the deal, but the league is likely to take a 10% stake in the majority Disney-owned ESPN. The league is currently in an 11-year, $111 billion media rights deal with Amazon, CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC, which is set to expire in 2033. The deal still needs to be approved by government regulators, but is expected to be done in plenty of time for the network to gear up for its Super Bowl 61 coverage. The game is set for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The game is to be aired by ABC, another Disney-owned property. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL deals RedZone, NFL Media assets to ESPN in blockbuster deal

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

ESPN obtains RedZone, other media assets from NFL in blockbuster deal, per report

ESPN obtains RedZone, other media assets from NFL in blockbuster deal, per report In one of the biggest media deals this century, ESPN and t...

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Lionel Messi needs to find his groove again to lead Inter Miami in Leagues Cup

Lionel Messi needs to find his groove again to lead Inter Miami in Leagues Cup

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. FORT LAUDERDALE, FL –Lionel MessiandInter Miamiwon their first match in the2025 Leagues Cupbut find themselves looking up at five other clubs in the tournament standings before their second match of the group stage. Inter Miami needs Messi to find his groove again if they're going to advance in the tournament. The 2025 Leagues Cup features a new format: While the matches are between Major League Soccer teams and LIGA MX clubs from Mexico, the top four clubs from each league will advance to the knockout stage. Earning three points for a win isn't enough in this year's edition. Goal differential is the next tiebreaker in the table, placing a greater emphasis on scoring to advance to the quarterfinals. "You look at the table, and you've won and you're in sixth place because of the goal difference. There are still two games to play, a lot can happen," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said a day before the club's match against Necaxa at Chase Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 2. Messi delivered assists on goals scored by Telasco Segovia and Marcelo Weigandt inInter Miami's 2-1 win against Atlas on July 30, but complained about feeling fatigued in his first match after having last week off. Messi was suspended forskipping the MLS All-Star Gameon July 23, causing him to serve a one-game suspension on July 26. Before the layoff, Messi scored two goals in four of five matches following the FIFA Club World Cup. "Even if [the rest] seems better, for me it's worse because I need to compete. I feel good physically the more matches I play and get into rhythm,"Messi told Apple TV."The other day they didn't let me compete, and I felt it in the first half, but the important thing is that we won." 🎙️ Las palabras de nuestro capitán tras la victoria 🐐pic.twitter.com/i05ewhu51H — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF)July 31, 2025 Mascherano expects Messi to find his form again, especially with Inter Miami having three of its next four matches at home. The only away match is against in-state rivalOrlando Cityon Aug. 10. "Unless Leo feels tired and doesn't say anything, the idea is that if he feels good, he'll always play," Mascherano said of Messi. Inter Miami needs its biggest star to keep pace with the MLS clubs in Leagues Cup. TheSeattle Soundersthrashed reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul 7-0, whileL.A. Galaxybeat Tijuana 5-2 on July 31. ThePortland Timberstoppled Atlético de San Luis 4-0, andMinnesota Unitedbeat Querétaro 4-1 on July 30. Seattle, Portland, the Galaxy and Minnesota are the top four clubs in the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table, followed byFC Cincinnati(which beat Monterrey 3-2 on July 31), Inter Miami, theColorado RapidsandNew York Red Bulls. Those eight MLS clubs won their first Leagues Cup match. The top four on the LIGA MX side are Tigres UANL, FC Juarez, Puebla and Necaxa after the first round of matches. After facing Necaxa, Inter Miami will host Tigres UANL on Wednesday, Aug. 6 in their last match of the group stage. "What keeps you going is trying to play well, get a good result, and then we'll see what happens," Mascherano said. "But I don't think there's much point in feeling sorry for yourself or focusing too much on other results." Necaxa is led by new coach Fernando Gago, barely two months into the job. They beatAtlanta United3-1 in their Leagues Cup opener on July 30. Gago was a starter alongside Messi and Mascherano in Argentina's 1-0 win in the Olympic men's soccer final in 2008, and came off the bench in their loss to Germany in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup final. "Fernando is a friend from soccer – someone I had the privilege of sharing many years with on the national team, but he's also someone I care about, someone I've shared moments with outside of soccer as well," Mascherano said of Gago. "It's always special to face people you know, people you've shared so many good times with. And in the end, when the ball starts rolling, I'll try to do everything I can to compete in the best way possible and win so we can still hope to qualify." The match begins at 7 p.m. on Aug. 2, with live stream available onMLS Season Pass via Apple TV. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Inter Miami vs. Necaxa: Is Messi playing, Leagues Cup table standings

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

Lionel Messi needs to find his groove again to lead Inter Miami in Leagues Cup

Lionel Messi needs to find his groove again to lead Inter Miami in Leagues Cup USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this ar...

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Lawmaker unveils 'ERIC ADAMS Act' threatening criminal penalties for sanctuary city mayors

Lawmaker unveils 'ERIC ADAMS Act' threatening criminal penalties for sanctuary city mayors

FIRST ON FOX:A House lawmaker is making a push to hold mayors of sanctuary cities responsible forillegal immigrantscommitting murder within their jurisdictions. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., is introducing the Establishing Responsibility for Illegals' Crimes and Adding Deterrence and Accountability for Mayors' Sanctuary Cities Act, or the ERIC ADAMS Act, on Friday. If passed, the bill would open sanctuary city mayors to criminal liability if illegal immigrants living there were found guilty of murder. Comer Dismisses Biden Doctor's Bid For Pause In Cover-up Probe: 'Throwing Out Every Excuse' It's named after New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is up for re-election this November. Carter, meanwhile, is running to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., in the November 2026 midterms. Read On The Fox News App The bill's introduction comes days after theTrump administrationmoved to sue the Big Apple for its sanctuary policies, one of multiple such lawsuits President Donald Trump's officials are pursuing against Democrat-run cities and states. Far-left Firebrand Says She 'Never Had A Concern' About Biden's Mental State As House Probe Heats Up Under the terms of Carter's legislation, a sanctuary city mayor could be found guilty of "criminal negligence resulting in manslaughter" if an undocumented person committed murder there and if "the mayor knowingly adopted, maintained, or failed to repeal a sanctuary policy that materially restricted cooperation with Federal immigration enforcement, and such policy directly and foreseeably contributed to the failure to detain or remove" the person before the crime was committed, according to bill text obtained by Fox News Digital. It would carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison, as well as certain fines. Enforcement would be left to theattorney general, the bill text said. "Laken Riley and countless other loved ones could still be alive today if our immigration laws were respected by mayors of sanctuary cities," Carter told Fox News Digital, referencing a nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant in early 2024 in Georgia. "As far as I'm concerned, they have blood on their hands and should be held personally accountable for creating a lawless environment that allows criminal illegal aliens to commit murder." Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Adams, told Fox News Digital when reached for comment: "It's often said that if both the left and the right are angry with you, you might be doing something right." "Mayor Adams is focused on what best protects and serves all the people of New York City. Keeping New Yorkers safe also means making sure they feel safe, and Mayor Adams has been clear: no one should be afraid to dial911, send their kids to school, or go to the hospital, and no New Yorker should feel forced to hide in the shadows," the Adams spokesperson said. "That's why the mayor supports the essence of the local laws put in place by the City Council, but he has also urged the Council to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to keep violent criminals off our streets." Fox News Digital also reached out to Adams' campaign for comment but did not hear back. Original article source:Lawmaker unveils 'ERIC ADAMS Act' threatening criminal penalties for sanctuary city mayors

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

Lawmaker unveils 'ERIC ADAMS Act' threatening criminal penalties for sanctuary city mayors

Lawmaker unveils 'ERIC ADAMS Act' threatening criminal penalties for sanctuary city mayors FIRST ON FOX:A House lawmaker is making a...

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Democrats cry foul as Republicans push to redraw Texas electoral maps to gain US House seats

Democrats cry foul as Republicans push to redraw Texas electoral maps to gain US House seats

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democratic lawmakers tried to build a case Friday that Republicans in Texas have engineered a rushed and unfair process forredrawing the state's congressional districtsin response to apush by President Donald Trumpto win more GOP seats that Democrats fear will spread to other states. Democrats in the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature delayed the start of public testimony during a hearing of a state House Committee on Redistricting by peppering its chair with pointed questions about how quickly GOP lawmakers planned to move and whether the public is getting enough of an opportunity to weigh in. The Republican proposal would give the GOP five more winnable seats in next year's elections, which would make it easier for the party tokeep its slim U.S. House majority. Chair Cody Vasut told the committee that he expected it to vote later Friday or Saturday on the bill, which Republicans unveiled Wednesday. He said he expected the full state House to debate the measure Tuesday. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called the Legislature into a 30-day special session and put congressional redistricting on the agenda afterDonald Trumpcalled for Texas to redraw lines that Republicans approved in 2021. Republicans hold 25 of the state's seats, to 13 for Democrats, and the plan would create 30 districts that Trump would have carried by at least 10 percentage points had they been in place in 2024. Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal called the public redistricting hearings "a sham." The committee quietly released the plan after several public hearings that drew hours of public testimony and scrutiny from residents concerned about new maps they hadn't seen. "Does the leadership of the state truly think the people of Texas are that stupid?" Rosenthal asked, to which Vasut did not reply. GOP author acknowledges partisan motives Democrats appear to have few ways to stop the GOP's plans. Some have talked about boycotting the special session to prevent either chamber or both from having a quorum to take action until the special session ends. But Abbott could call another. Republican state Rep. Todd Hunter, the bill's author, dismissed concerns about how quickly lawmakers are moving. He said they've have been discussing the possibility for months. "Don't be surprised," he said. "The topic has been there." Hunter acknowledged that the lines were being redrawn "for partisan purposes," which he said is allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. He said a law firm was consulted as the map was being drawn. "I'm telling you," he said. "I'm not beating around the bush." Democrats argue that if Republicans succeed in redrawing the districts in Texas, Trump will push other states to redraw theirs before they'd normally do so, which would be in 2031 or 2032, after the next nationwide census. States are required to adjust the lines at least once every 10 years to keep the districts as equal in population as possible after population shifts. That's led Democrats inCalifornia and New Yorkto consider redrawing their states' lines to help Democrats, though each state has an independent commission for drawing the lines. Texas might have no competitive districts Under the exiting lines, which were in place for the 2022 and 2024 elections, Republicans won all of the seats in districts carried by Trump by at least 10 percentage points, and Democrats won all 11 districts carried by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. In the other two districts, Trump won by less than 10 percentage points, but Democrats won the House seats. Under the new map, there would be no districts won by Trump by less than 10 points. In Austin, a liberal bastion, parts of two districts represented by Democrats would be combined into one that favored Democrats even more strongly. One of the three other districts would include a slice of the city and extend 340 miles (547 kilometers) to the west, to take in the oil city of Midland. Vault refused to recognize Democrats so they could force the committee to vote on adding more public hearings in cities affected by the new maps. Data compiled by the Legislature shows that the proposed map would pack more Democratic voters into fewer districts while spreading Republicans out a bit more. Hunter said there's no requirement to do redistricting at a certain time. "Some people like it, and some people don't, and that's the nature of redistricting," Hunter said. ___ Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas.

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

Democrats cry foul as Republicans push to redraw Texas electoral maps to gain US House seats

Democrats cry foul as Republicans push to redraw Texas electoral maps to gain US House seats AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democratic lawmakers tried...

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Jets DT Quinnen Williams (calf) sidelined 1-2 weeks

Jets DT Quinnen Williams (calf) sidelined 1-2 weeks

New York Jets star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will be out one to two weeks with a strained left calf, head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed Friday. The three-time Pro Bowler sustained the injury during positional drills Thursday and did not participate in Friday's training camp session at Florham Park, N.J. "We want to make sure this player is going to be good," Glenn said. "We know what he's all about. We know what he can do. And listen, we want to hold him out and we'll see how that goes." Williams, 27, started 16 games last season and contributed 37 tackles, 18 quarterback hits and 6.0 sacks. Glenn said sidelining Williams is "precautionary" and noted that he missed one game in 2022 with a calf injury. "He understands exactly how you have to operate and make sure he goes through the process of getting healed," Glenn said. "He'll be just fine." Williams earned All-Pro first-team honors in 2022 and signed a four-year, $96 million extension ahead of the 2023 season. He has 39.0 sacks, 98 QB hits, 290 tackles, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception in 90 games (86 starts) since New York drafted him with the No. 3 overall pick in 2019. The Jets' first preseason game is Aug. 9 at Green Bay. They open the regular season at home against their former quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 7. --Field Level Media

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

Jets DT Quinnen Williams (calf) sidelined 1-2 weeks

Jets DT Quinnen Williams (calf) sidelined 1-2 weeks New York Jets star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will be out one to two weeks with a...

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