Pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights to the new Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) American football development competition, according to Forbes.
ESPN will broadcast the inaugural FXFL season via its ESPN3 online streaming platform.
ESPN will also stream coverage of games via its official mobile application.
FXFL has also secured a number of rights deals with regional networks such as US sports cable-television broadcaster SportsNet New York and the Chicago division of US media company Comcast.
FXFL commissioner Brain Woods said: “Having an affiliation with ESPN is something that is going to enhance us with our efforts to build that bridge into the NFL (professional American football league).”
The FXFL has been designed for players that did not make it into the NFL but are still hoping to win a professional contract.
The debut FXFL season will begin on October 8.