Paul Finebaum is again rumored to be interested in leaving ESPN. In 2018, there was talk of the college football expert heading to FOX, last fall Finebaum reportedly had conversations with DAZN and now a sitcom based on his life has been discussed.
According to Michael Smith of the Sports Business Journal, Finebaum and his agency CAA broached all four major networks about the possibility of creating a sitcom featuring his radio show as the focal point. Finebaum remains under contract with ESPN through the 2020 college football season, part of a three-year extension he signed with the network in 2018 worth $5 million annually.
Finebaum is now in his fifth decade as a prominent sports media member. Beginning as a reporter for the Birmingham Post-Herald, later launching The Paul Finebaum Radio Network and eventually joining ESPN in 2013. At the time, John Skipper was president of the Worldwide Leader and brought Finebaum in to be the face of the SEC Network. Skipper is now the executive chairman of DAZN and the two reportedly share mutual interest in a possible reunion, should Finebaum leave ESPN. According to SBJ, if Finebaum did join DAZN, the deal would likely include a radio distribution partner similar to the one The Pat McAfee Show has with Westwood One.
Another potential landing spot for Finebaum, if he does leave ESPN, is creating an entirely new platform. SBJ notes Finebaum could create a podcast and editorial property modeled after The Ringer, which was launched by former ESPN employee Bill Simmons.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
