Analysis-ESPN-NFL deal faces regulatory hurdles

FILE PHOTO: Oct 7, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of the ESPN Monday night Football logo during the first half of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images/File Photo

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -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.

The agreement, announced late Tuesday, involves Disney's ESPN acquiring the NFL Network and other media properties in exchange for the league receiving a 10 percent stake in the sports network.