Netflix turned to ESPN to find the face of its growing sports enterprise.
According to The Athletic, the streaming giant is adding ESPN’s Elle Duncan as its first “full-time on-air” personality for its growing sports venture, which may include more live sports in the future.
The addition has reportedly created pessimism regarding Duncan’s future with ESPN, although the parties have discussed her potential contribution to the Worldwide Leader’s women’s basketball coverage, where she has played a role in Women’s Final Four and WNBA Finals production.
According to the report, no decision has been made about that possibility.
Duncan’s Netflix contract has not yet been signed, and while the company will focus on him, his deal is reportedly expected to allow him to contribute to other networks.
According to the outlet, she could potentially help in other non-sports areas for Netflix as well.
The Athletic notes that the hiring of the 42-year-old Duncan is a sign that Netflix plans to add more live sports to its catalog.
Netflix acquired the rights to broadcast NFL games on Christmas, air WWE programming including Monday night’s “Raw,” stream the highly anticipated but final fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson and will be the home of MLB’s opening game and Home Run Derby in 2026.
The Giants will host the Yankees in next year’s MLB season.
Netflix’s growing presence is reportedly causing some friction in the sports media landscape.
ESPN is “hesitant” about sharing its talent with Netflix, and has turned down a request to let its talent be part of the Cowboys-Commanders and Lions-Vikings games to be broadcast on Netflix on December 25.
The Athletic said the network “is reluctant to continue helping a rapidly growing rival for big-time events.”
Duncan, 42, joined ESPN in 2016 as an anchor for “Sportscenter” and also hosts a podcast under her own name, which the company promotes.
Her other duties include being the women’s college basketball host for “College GameDay” and hosting “WNBA Countdown,” according to her company bio.
According to the outlet, Netflix showed interest in fellow ESPN star Malika Andrews, but she re-signed with ESPN.
<a href=