There had been rumblings about how ESPN would handle one of its star anchors inking a deal to become the face of Netflix Sports. And now her fate has been determined.
As first reported by The Athletic, the World Wide Leader has decided to cut ties with Elle Duncan. Her contract, per The Athletic, ends at the end of the year. Netflix reportedly wants her sooner than that, and would showcase her talents to the world when Netflix streams NFL games on Christmas.
In any event, Duncan's departure puts an end to the idea that she would juggle her ESPN and Netflix roles. It seems that's no longer the case.
Why Duncan Is Leaving ESPN for Netflix
The Athletic reports that Duncan's move to Netflix comes with a substantial raise in salary. What's more, her move to Netflix may lighten her workload.
At ESPN, Duncan anchored the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter alongside Kevin Negandhi. She also helmed the network's women's sports coverage. At Netflix, reports indicate that Duncan will have the flexibility to work for other networks, so long as those assignments don't conflict with her duties at Netflix.
The streaming giant made waves with the announcement. The sports media website Awful Announcing hailed the move, deducing that Duncan's hiring means Netflix is serious about its sports media venture.
Netflix Sports has a massive slate coming up. In addition to the NFL on Christmas, it recently landed the rights to MLB Opening Day and the Women's World Cup in 2027.
Duncan's Departure Sets Off Stampede
Front Office Sports' Michael McCarthy reported on Tuesday that "the resumes are flying" because there are "a lot of people fighting" to fill Duncan's roles. In addition to the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter, Duncan also hosts College GameDay for women's college basketball and WNBA Countdown.
FOS also reports that ESPN is not in a hurry to replace Duncan. The outlet reports that ESPN will "take a few months to audition people inside and outside the network."
Related: New Details Emerge on Molly Qerim's Abrupt Exit From ESPN's 'First Take'
Duncan's exit marks yet another high-profile departure. Molly Qerim shockingly left ESPN as host of First Take in September after a decade.
ESPN recently picked Shae Cornette to take over First Take.
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