David Purdum, ESPN’s prominent sports betting reporter, has signed a new multi-year deal to continue in his role for the network.
Purdum has been with the network since 2014 and will continue reporting on all aspects of the sports betting industry for the sports media giant.
“David is a well-established, well-respected reporter, who has done a great job covering the sports betting industry for ESPN, especially during the unprecedented growth of the space since 2018,” said Scott Clark, ESPN’s VP of fantasy and betting content. “He has anchored our sports betting editorial coverage, and we’re excited to have him continuing that for years to come.”
“In my eyes, ESPN remains the perfect platform to cover the wild world of sports betting, something I’ve been blessed to do for the last 10 years,” said Purdum. “The future is going to be even more fascinating, as the fledgling American betting market continues to mature into what most experts believe will be one of the largest in the world. I can’t wait to tell the stories along the way.”
Purdum’s reporting has been at the forefront of many headline stories in the world of sports betting during his time with ESPN. Earlier this year, his work was important in uncovering the fact that Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter had been involved in a betting scheme regarding his own performances. Porter was ultimately banned for life by the NBA for his actions.
Purdum has been covering the sports betting industry since 2008 for a variety of publications. Before joining ESPN in 2014, he worked for the likes of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His work has also been featured by other outlets including The Sporting News and Sports Business Journal.
ESPN continues to deepen betting content
ESPN has increased its multi-platform sports betting content over the past few years, not only deepening its written editorial content but also adding more betting digital programming.
The collaboration with PENN Entertainment on the ESPN Bet brand has continued that trend. Last fall, the network rebranded its The Daily Wager show, which it had launched in 2019, as ESPN Bet Live.
The ESPN Bet brand has tied ESPN more intrinsically to sports betting, but it’s nothing new for ESPN. The network’s traditional sports side of the network has integrated betting content in recent years and its flagship Outside The Lines show has offered a sports betting slant for many years.
As far back as 2019, Norby Williamson, ESPN EVP and executive editor of studio production, said that, “the sports betting environment has changed and interest is increasing at unprecedented levels” and promised sports betting content will have “a strong and vibrant presence across our platform.”
