Netflix is set to hire Elle Duncan, ESPN’s on-air talent, to be its first full-time sports personality, marking a significant step in its expansion into live sports, according to a report by The Athletic.
The streaming giant has expanded its live sports coverage in recent years, featuring events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Christmas Day NFL games, and major boxing matches like Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. As the year comes to a close, Netflix plans to further enhance its boxing coverage, including the match between Paul and Anthony Joshua, as well as events from WWE, NFL and MLB.
Duncan joined ESPN in 2016 as an anchor for SportsCenter and has been a staple of the 6 p.m. show for the past five years. Reports indicate that Netflix pursued Malika Andrews, but she signed a multiyear extension with ESPN in September. In her new role with Netflix, Duncan will anchor the streaming service’s live sports and studio content lineup, taking on a leading position in coverage.
Though the contract has not been signed yet, the report also indicated that Duncan’s new role with Netflix raises concerns about her future at ESPN, but the company and Duncan’s agent have not commented on the situation.