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Matthew Berry departed ESPN in 2022 over disagreements regarding employee involvement in independent media ventures. The fantasy football expert subsequently joined NBC’s “Football Night in America” while developing Fantasy Life, his privately held media company now projected to generate eight-figure revenue annually. Berry has since left NBC to concentrate entirely on his standalone enterprise.
ESPN’s stance on talent ownership has shifted markedly in recent years, with network leadership now actively pursuing partnerships with content creators who maintain control of their intellectual property. Berry confirmed this week in an interview with OutKick that he has engaged in recent conversations with ESPN about potential collaboration, pointing to Pat McAfee’s arrangement as the gold standard for such agreements.
Berry highlighted several precedents that demonstrate ESPN’s evolving flexibility. Rich Eisen licensed his show to the network under an agreement that preserves his ownership stake, while hosts including Josh Pate retained independent business operations alongside their ESPN commitments. Pate and his “Bussin’ With The Boys” co-hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan will debut a new college football program on ESPN each Friday this season while maintaining their separate podcast.
Despite maintaining cordial relationships with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro and Executive Vice President Burke Magnus, Berry stressed that negotiations remain preliminary. “No deal is imminent,” he stated, though he acknowledged the talks have proceeded constructively.
Berry’s digital footprint positions him as an attractive partner for ESPN. His podcast downloads during football season rival major competitors including Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” and “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” cementing his status as one of sports media’s most influential independent voices. Industry observers expect Berry is simultaneously exploring opportunities with Amazon, Netflix, Paramount, and gambling platforms to expand Fantasy Life’s reach.
Berry acknowledged that his current earnings fall short of his former ESPN salary, though he projects surpassing his television compensation by the third year of independent operation.
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