ESPN Buys Stake in Lacrosse League, Pointing to Strategy Shift.

The article focuses on ESPN's acquisition of a minority stake in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) while retaining its media rights, marking a strategic shift in the network's approach during the streaming era. The new five-year deal, which begins after the current season, includes rights to the PLL's newly formed Women's Lacrosse League, although specific financial terms were not disclosed. ESPN's executive vice president of programming and acquisitions expressed confidence in the PLL's future growth, indicating that equity investments may become a regular strategy for the network as it transitions to a direct-to-consumer model. The PLL, established in 2019, aims to enhance its profile through this partnership, especially with lacrosse's anticipated return to the Olympics in 2028. [Extracted from the article]