Sports biz reporter Rovell’s contract is up at ESPN

Sports business reporter Darren Rovell‘s contract at ESPN is set to expire later this year, reports Michael McCarthy of The Sporting News.

McCarthy writes, “It will be interesting to see if a cost-cutting ESPN renews its ace business reporter. Or if the Emmy-winning Rovell returns to former employer CNBC. Or whether a deep-pocketed tech/digital company makes a play for an influencer who has 1.4 million Twitter followers.

“Leaving the 800-pound gorilla of sports media would be a risk for Rovell. Other ESPN talents such as Rachel Nichols and Michelle Beadle have left the Worldwide Leader in Sports, only to return once they found the grass isn’t always greener.

“Rovell and ESPN both declined to comment when reached by Sporting News this week.

“Under his current pact, Rovell makes an estimated $500,000 a year from ESPN. He is believed to have a separate deal for his work as a contributor to ESPN’s sister Disney network ABC.

“This is Rovell’s second stint with ESPN. As a brash youngster straight out of Northwestern in 2000, the Roslyn Heights, N.Y., native talked his way into a job with the network. He jumped to CNBC in 2006 and eventually hosted his own show there.”

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