Ryan Clark says ESPN tried to take The Pivot away from him. The network’s latest contract negotiation prior to being laid off this summer, he claims, required him to stop hosting the podcast.
What We Know: Clark shared the story during an appearance on The Daniel Cormier Show. The offer arrived around November, and he says he never responded. Ultimately, he stayed at ESPN, and continued hosting The Pivot. However, ESPN let him go in July during a live NFL Live taping, ending a run that began more than a decade ago. Since his departure, Clark has elevated The Pivot to a distribution deal with Netflix, earned an investor in former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and launched a new show called The Pivot Sports.
What They Said: (All quotes via The Daniel Cormier Show):
Ryan Clark says ESPN attempted to get him to drop The Pivot in contract talks: “When I was negotiating this recent contract with ESPN, the first thing they send me over says you can no longer do The Pivot. That that was that was the first piece of negotiation, and they sent that to me probably November. I didn’t even respond. When I talked to them again in January, I said if that is where we are starting and we can’t move off of that, then that’s not even a place of a conversation to have.”
Ryan Clark doesn’t understand why ESPN didn’t ask about licensing The Pivot: “Think about shows that ESPN has purchased, things that they’ve brought in. Production companies that they’ve worked with. If you have one of your biggest personalities who has a show like my show that is consistently used on the network. You actually as a network, have been searching for a great podcast. You’ve been trying to figure out how to start one yourself, and you haven’t been able to do it. Why not come get it from me? Why not have that conversation? But instead, you’re trying to take me from it in order to be a part of what you’re doing. I refuse to do it.”
Ryan Clark says The Pivot would have prevented him from going elsewhere: “That’s a carve out that I can do that work. I can’t go work for CBS. I can’t go work for NBC. You work at these big networks and your star dwindles. The problem is they ain’t no other ESPN fam. There aint.”
What Remains Unclear: It remains unclear whether ESPN will address Clark’s claims. Additionally, whether or not Clark will make any return to network television is an open question.
What It Means: Clark’s story shows how much leverage outside platforms now carry in top talent negotiations. Notably, the podcast became his foundation after ESPN cut ties. Since then, Netflix picked up The Pivot, and Clark launched a weekly studio show with NFL Films. In short, the show ESPN once wanted gone now anchors his career.
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