In a major coup for the streaming world, Netflix is reportedly on the verge of hiring veteran sports presenter Elle Duncan away from ESPN to become the public face of its rapidly growing sports division.
A Major Career Move
According to a report from The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, Elle Duncan, a 10-year ESPN stalwart and co-host of Sportscenter, is set to sign a significant contract with the streaming giant. While a formal agreement is not yet signed, the deal is expected to make Netflix her top priority while allowing her to make appearances on other networks.
The 42-year-old broadcaster is well-known for her role as a co-host on the 6pm edition of Sportscenter and for regularly fronting the network's coverage of the WNBA. Her potential departure casts serious doubt on her future with ESPN, with sources indicating there is pessimism about her continuing there. However, discussions have been held about the possibility of her retaining a role in women's basketball coverage, an area Netflix does not currently broadcast.
Netflix's Aggressive Sports Push
This potential signing is a clear signal of Netflix's ambitious plans to become a major player in live sports. The streaming service dipped its toes into the arena with golf's Netflix Cup in November 2023 and has since accelerated its expansion at a remarkable pace.
Key pillars of its new sports strategy include a 10-year, $5 billion deal to exclusively stream WWE's Monday Night Raw, which began in January. The schedule is also packed with blockbuster boxing, including the upcoming fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul live from Miami.
Looking ahead, Netflix holds the rights to broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day each year. Starting in 2026, it will also show MLB's Opening Night game, beginning with the New York Yankees at the San Francisco Giants. Furthermore, it has secured the US rights to the FIFA Women's World Cup in both 2027 and 2031.
Duncan's Profile and Personality
If the deal is finalised, Duncan is expected to host Netflix's marquee sporting events, a move that would also free her from the demanding daily schedule at ESPN. The Atlanta native began her career in sports talk radio, providing on-site reporting for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
She joined NESN in 2014 before moving to ESPN in 2016, where she has worked as an anchor, reporter, and host. Duncan's charismatic and sometimes cheeky on-air persona was on full display earlier this year when she went viral for a risqué joke during the WNBA All-Star Game halftime show.
Commenting on the high-scoring game, she quipped, 'We hope it gets a little bit more competitive, because like a girls trip to Cancun, right now, there's no D.' She later defended her style on The Dan Le Batard Show, refusing to apologise and stating that such humour has been a part of her broadcasting identity for a decade.
This high-profile recruitment, led by Netflix executives like Gabe Spitzer, marks a significant new chapter in the intensifying battle for sports broadcasting dominance, signalling that Netflix is fully committed to competing for viewers' attention with traditional sports networks.
