Netflix has appointed ESPN anchor Elle Duncan as its first on-air sports host, marking a significant step into live sports programming. Duncan, known for her work on 'SportsCenter,' 'College GameDay' and 'WNBA Countdown,' has signed a multiyear deal to host across Netflix’s lineup of sports and cultural live events.
Duncan’s first assignment will be in early 2026 with 'Skyscraper Live,' a live event where free solo climber Alex Honnold will attempt to scale Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan at 1,667 feet. The event underscores Netflix’s growing ambition in live sports, having secured deals with the NFL, MLB, the Women’s World Cup and WWE.
In a statement, Duncan said: 'Joining Netflix feels like being invited to an already legendary party and somehow getting handed the aux cord! For a lifelong utility player, a multisport assignment is a full-circle moment, and being trusted with something this one-of-a-kind feels incredibly special and surreal. I’m bringing boundless energy, storytelling, and bad puns no one asked for but will be subjected to anyway.'
Gabe Spitzer, Netflix’s vice-president of sports, said: '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. She immediately adds credibility and familiar star power to our global programming slate.'
Duncan joined ESPN in 2016 and has held key roles across college and professional basketball. Before that, she worked for the New England Sports Network (NESN) in Boston and began her broadcasting career in Atlanta, including as a sports anchor for NBC affiliate WXIA-TV and a sideline reporter for the Atlanta Hawks.
