Ever since the NFL announced it was looking to sell NFL Network and other media assets, ESPN had been seen as one of the favourites to make a deal. Nearly five years later, a framework is finally in place.

The National Football League's deal with Walt Disney in which it will gain an equity stake in ESPN in return for prime media assets is expected to face scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to legal experts and industry sources.

ESPN is acquiring NFL Fantasy as part of its deal with NFL Media. The merger isn't likely to impact fantasy managers this season.