In what I can only describe as a strange move, CNBC Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell is reportedly leaving the network and going to ESPN where he began his career. Jason McIntyre at The Big Lead reports that the move will be formally announced on Thursday.
Darren has been with CNBC since 2006 and throughout his time with the network, has made a solid niche as a sports business reporter, parlaying the beat into his own show, CNBC Sports Biz: Game On! on Versus, then NBC Sports Network last year. Over the last few years, Darren has been seen on NBC Sports coverage of the Super Bowl and the Kentucky Derby
But now comes word that Darren is leaving the Peacock. When Keith Thibault of Sports Business Journal and I spoke with Darren for the 100th edition of Sports Business Weekly, it sounded as if Darren was very happy at CNBC.
We’ll get more on this on Thursday and I’m sure Darren will tweet about it when everything becomes official. As of now, no one at ESPN, NBC or Darren are talking at this point.
UPDATE, 10:25 p.m.: James Andrew Miller, co-author of “Those Guys Have All The Fun: Inside The World at ESPN” discovers that Rovell’s new contract with Disney is two-fold, one with ESPN and the other with ABC News.
Just learned There are two different deals for @darrenrovell: One w/ @espn, other w/ABC news. That’s different than espn deal w/hits on abc.
— James Andrew Miller (@ESPNBook) June 21, 2012
I’m sure we’ll get some more information on this on Thursday.
UPDATE, 11:45 p.m.: Before I get yelled at, the first inklings about Rovell leaving CNBC came from former Fox Sports PR maven Vince Wladika, who tweeted the information around 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.
