Michelle Beadle Leaving ESPN For NBC: REPORT

By Matt Yoder, Awful Announcing

The intrigue surrounding coveted free agent Michelle Beadle's future has been ongoing since reports indicated her contract was coming to an end at ESPN several months ago.  Beadle, along with Scott Van Pelt, have been seen as two of the biggest free agents to come along in the sports media in many years.  Today, we may be coming closer to knowing where Beadle's final destination will be.  

Sports by Brooks first tweeted a report that Michelle Beadle is leaving ESPN for NBC Sports with an eye towards also working for Access Hollywood and the Today Show:

@SPORTSbyBROOKS
SPORTSbyBROOKS

SbB has learned Michelle Beadle will depart ESPN for NBC Sports with the plan for her to land eventually at Access Hollywood as co-host.

May 10, 2012 7:33 pm via TweetDeck Reply Retweet Favorite

@SPORTSbyBROOKS
SPORTSbyBROOKS

Before Beadle transitions to NBCUniversal-distributed Access Hollywood, she'll cover Olympics, appear on Today Show, among other duties.

May 10, 2012 7:37 pm via TweetDeck Reply Retweet Favorite

Michelle Beadle would certainly be the high profile, star addition NBC has been searching for as Brooks reports.  While Beadle's deal with NBC appears imminent, it is not yet set in stone.  We can report Beadle has been working with NBC on a deal and an agreement is indeed possible in the near future, but a contract has not been finalized yet.

Beadle to NBC would present intriguing possibilities.  All along many have thought Beadle's ESPN colleague Scott Van Pelt would be a more natural fit at NBC Sports.  According to Brooks' report, Beadle would be doing some sports, but also work with NBC's entertainment programs after a stint at the Olympics.  And perhaps, that's what Beadle has had her sights set on all along.  Michelle Beadle wouldn't look at all out of place doing a feature on the Today show or reporting for Access Hollywood.  She definitely has that crossover potential that could work in a variety of settings at NBC.  While her contract negotiations have been ongoing, the sentiment for many has been a transition into the news and entertainment realm much like her ESPN co-worker Erin Andrews.

We reached out to NBC and they officially declined to comment on the matter.  We'll provide updates as more information becomes available.

UPDATE:

@SPORTSbyBROOKS
SPORTSbyBROOKS

RT @TheBigLead: Text from Michelle Beadle: "not accurate." my interpretation: she's probably leaving Espn, for something @ NBC as SBB claims

May 10, 2012 8:07 pm via TweetDeck Reply Retweet Favorite

WATCH: Michelle Beadle On ESPN

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Comments

[Mailman]

07:26 PM on 06/02/2012

She's really cool and hot.

[efrommo]

08:40 PM on 06/01/2012

All she ever did was disagree with anything Collin said. Nice legs

[Joshua Veverka]

11:01 AM on 05/30/2012

Beads made that show, and is the best female in the sports news industry. It's too bad she is moving over to a Hollywood gossip show.

[Karl Hildebrand]

05:25 PM on 05/15/2012

Is she taking her doppleganger Cameron Diaz with her?

[ralle]

01:19 AM on 05/15/2012

Big fan of LeBron James, she hates him.......Bye Bye.

[AsISaid]

09:23 PM on 05/14/2012

Competent, funny, good looking - I like her a lot.

[chaz]

04:15 PM on 05/14/2012

Love me some Beadle.

[MelanieMorgasm]

07:08 AM on 05/13/2012

shes already pretty old, she certainly no spring chickin. i always laugh at her because she got balled by aaron rodgers.

[Moderate Independent]

05:34 AM on 05/15/2012

balled?

[R Ferris]

11:19 PM on 05/12/2012

Michelle is great on ESPN, I wonder if NBC will use her right.

[Paul OhioSprtzfan Sink]

09:34 PM on 05/12/2012

Always thought Michelle was the better attraction at ESPN,(Erin is too stuck on herself),The Beads is real,great to watch,and the better talent ESPN's lost NBC's gain,hope she keeps doing sports no matter what else she does!

[Meerkatx]

12:52 PM on 05/12/2012

I enjoy Beadle, and she'll do fine as long as she stays with non serious news and sports.

She's better than her co-host Cowherd by a mile.

[wayne64]

07:02 PM on 05/12/2012

That chemistry they have together won't be easy to duplicate...Those 2 are great together...The best male, female sports pair out there...But then ..who else is out there?

[GeorgeGee]

07:52 PM on 05/12/2012

Agree completely.

[DrMink]

10:13 AM on 05/12/2012

I think "star" in generous.

[GeorgeGee]

07:53 PM on 05/12/2012

She is definitely a star.

[michael07]

11:06 PM on 05/11/2012

Could we pay to have Doug Gottlieb taken off the air and use the money to keep Beadle?

[Burning Chrome]

10:49 PM on 05/11/2012

my biggest problem with this--and it is happening--is that when she goes to access hollywood i won't watch her anymore...can't stand that crap. but when it comes to sports and other stuff she may do, i'll be watching if i can. she's attractive, intelligent, quick-witted and forthright. after may 31, i don't know what i'll watch from 5-6pm.

[media1]

08:04 PM on 05/11/2012

Put all men crews back into the mens' sports.

[GeorgeGee]

08:04 PM on 05/12/2012

Lessley Visser, Gayle Gardner, Robin Roberts, Linda Cohen, Hannah Storm, Bonnie Bernstein, Doris Burke, Mary Carillo and Rachel Nichols, just to name a few. All wonderful women who have gotten their starts in sports, who have excelled in sports, and know more sports than 90% of men out there. All very talented and assets to their networks. And Beadle is one of them. She knows her sports! And she is extremely charasmatic. She's great and will be a success anywhere she goes.

[media1]

05:54 PM on 05/14/2012

So put them with the chick sports.