It’s no surprise other platforms are interested in Paul Finebaum, but will ESPN let their popular sportscaster walk? According to Bobby Burack of The Big Lead, Finebaum met with former ESPN president and current executive chairman of DAZN Group John Skipper, signaling mutual interest between the two.
Since DAZN launched in Germany and Japan in 2016, entering the U.S. market in 2018, the OTT subscription sports service has continued to expand at a rapid and expensive rate. Last month DAZN began seeking new investment funds, but interest in Finebaum could mean they still have budget room for potential high-priced talent.
It was Skipper who brought Finebaum to the Worldwide Leader in 2013 and according to The Big Lead, they were discussing a contract extension for well over $3 million annually when the ESPN president surprisingly left in 2017. Contract negotiations stalled without Skipper as Finebaum neared free agency in 2018, but ESPN and the college football expert ultimately agreed to a deal averaging around $2 million per year.
Finebaum remains under contract with ESPN, after having just signed the extension in July 2018. As The Big Lead notes, Finebaum is represented by Nick Kahn of CAA. Kahn previously negotiated huge deals in the $6 million per year range for Skip Bayless and Colin Cowherd to leave ESPN for FS1. FS1’s president at the time, Jamie Horowitz, is now DAZN’s current EVP of content. Kahn and Finabaum both having relationships with DAZN decision-makers could help the OTT service lure the sportscaster away from ESPN.
As DAZN develops, they’ve invested heavily in fight sports, including a $1 billion partnership with Matchroom Boxing and signing boxer Canelo Alvarez to a $365 million contract. DAZN (pronounced “da-zone”). While they continue to be interested in live sports, DAZN also recently partnered with Pat McAfee and Westwood One, displaying a radio/simulcast model that could be replicated for other talent like Finebaum.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here