NFL Network, now under ESPN control, goes dark on Comcast Xfinity

The NFL Network has gone dark on Comcast’s Xfinity service after the sports broadcaster’s new owners were unable to come to terms with the MVPD.

NFL Network, which was originally owned and operated solely by the NFL, became a joint venture between Disney’s ESPN division and the league on April 1, 2026/

That put ESPN in charge of hashing out a new deal for the now-expired agreement between the network and Comcast and the two sides have been unable to reach a new retransmission agreement. 

The blackout, which began May 1, 2026, affects NFL Network and RedZone on Xfinity. 

“We understand how disappointing and disruptive this is for football fans who have lost access to NFL Network and RedZone Channel as part of their Xfinity TV lineup,” reads a statement from ESPN.

ESPN had offered to keep the channels on Xfinity as negotiations continued, but Comcast turned that down, according to ESPN.

Comcast acknowledged the two sides are continuing negotiations. 

With this year’s NFL Draft, which is a major event for the league and network, now in the past and the NFL in its offseason, there is likely to be less pressure, particularly from viewers, on both sides to close on a new agreement.

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