Elle Duncan is officially on her way out at ESPN. The longtime "SportsCenter" anchor is set to leave the network after striking a deal with Netflix, where she will become the streaming giant's first full-time sports personality.
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Photo courtesy Joe Faraoni/ESPN press room
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported Monday that Duncan's new contract with Netflix included room for her to stay at ESPN, but she has chosen to move on.
According to the report, there is no friction between the sides. The decision comes down to two things that are hard to pass up: more money and a lighter schedule.
Netflix has been steadily expanding its presence in live sports, securing exclusive rights to two NFL games on Christmas Day and dipping into MLB broadcasts, the Women's World Cup and high-profile fight cards like last year's Jake Paul-Mike Tyson matchup and another Paul headliner on the way.
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Duncan will be a key part of that push as Netflix continues building its sports portfolio.
Duncan, 42, has anchored the 6 p.m. edition of "SportsCenter" for the past five years and has also fronted studio coverage for the WNBA.
She made headlines earlier this year for a crude joke during the WNBA All-Star Game, though that does not appear to have played any role in her departure.
Her move marks another major shift in ESPN's on-air lineup, and it signals Netflix's intent to move further into sports programming with recognizable names.
Duncan is expected to begin her new role once her ESPN tenure officially ends.
