ESPN will continue to broadcast the NFL Draft as well as obtaining new digital rights for its upcoming direct-to-consumer service.

The two agreements were announced Wednesday morning, two hours before the Walt Disney Company announced its third-quarter earnings.

It also came after the NFL and ESPN announced a nonbinding agreement Tuesday night in which ESPN will acquire the NFL Network and other league media assets while the NFL gets a 10% equity stake in ESPN.

ESPN has aired the NFL Draft since 1980, when the league's annual selection meeting took place at the New York Sheraton Hotel. Back then, the draft was two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) and took 12 rounds.

Next year's draft will be in Pittsburgh and is expected to attract massive crowds over the three days. The first round has ha

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