ESPN host Elle Duncan has announced she is leaving the network after nine years to join Netflix. She revealed on Thursday that she signed a multi-year deal to host Netflix’s sports and other cultural live events.
Duncan had been with ESPN since 2016, where she hosted the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter, along with the women’s NCAA Tournament and WNBA. Her move comes as Netflix rapidly expands its sports portfolio, including a Christmas Day doubleheader for the second straight year and Major League Baseball games starting next season.
“Elle Duncan’s proven ability to seamlessly move between hard-hitting sports analysis and warm, personality-driven cultural hosting makes her a perfect fit at Netflix,” said Gabe Spitzer, Netflix's vice president of sports. “She immediately adds credibility and familiar star power to our global programming slate.”
Duncan's first on-air hosting duties with Netflix will be early next year with Skyscraper Live, featuring free solo climber Alex Honnold's attempt to scale Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan. “Joining Netflix feels like being invited to an already legendary party and somehow getting handed the aux cord!” Duncan said in a statement. “For a lifelong utility player, a multisport assignment is a full-circle moment.”
