Football has become a staple of American culture for decades, whether Sundays in September or the beginning of February. However, this year, there will be one key change in the way fans keep up with their fantasy teams, parlays, and hometown favorites.

“Seven hours of RedZone football, starts now.”

Fans across the globe are familiar with that phrase from NFL Network personality Scott Hanson. The beloved host has become an icon in family rooms everywhere. 

Yet, there is one slight difference with that phrase this year compared to most; Hanson does not say “commercial-free football.” 

In early August 2025, the NFL and ESPN announced a nonbinding agreement. This agreement would see ESPN take ownership of the key media assets that the sports giant had to offer. 

NFL Fantasy and NFL Network were two massive parts of the deal. None are more important and noticeable than the changes that Disney (which owns ESPN) will implement to NFL RedZone. 

Redzone, a program that ran from the beginning of the morning slate on NFL Sundays before having viewers change their channels to NBC for Sunday Night Football, provided fans with what some would call a “heavenly” football experience. The show was built on a few principles that kept people glued to their televisions for seven straight hours.

The first being that they showed every touchdown from every game in that seven hour window, one that sure will not change regardless of ownership of the brand. The next, and clearly more important of the two values, was that the show had zero commercials. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, Hansen joined fellow sports media personality and former NFL punter Pat McAfee on his talk show to discuss the start of the football season and the transition between ownership. 

“The business folks handle the business,” Hansen said. “I have no say over different elements that could or could not be in the show.” 

This quote was the final nail in the coffin for rumors that had been circulating about RedZone potentially not being commercial-free this season. As Hansen delivered the signature introduction without the two golden words, football fans everywhere were sent into outrage.

Most fans say that this change is extremely disappointing considering the very clear support that this program has had for many years now. While it remains to be seen what changes will come to other NFL media platforms acquired by ESPN, it is clear that a new way to watch is on the horizon.

While ads on a business this big are understandable, those seven commercial-free hours were an escape for many. How ESPN responds now will not only address current frustration but may shape the future relationship between fans and the RedZone experience.