ESPN is set to keep one of the biggest sports media free agents tethered to its platform, having reportedly signed Mina Kimes to a massive contract extension.
The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand has revealed that the network has locked Kimes up on a deal that will see her earnings rise to over $2 million a year. The analyst has a separate deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions for her podcast, with Omaha and ESPN currently in a partnership.
The extension sees Kimes move into the same earnings area as ‘NFL Live’ colleague Marcus Spears. The former NFL player signed a four-year deal with the company earlier in the year.
Marchand notes that Mina’s role at The Worldwide Leader in Sports will remain unchanged, though the exact terms of her contract are still unknown. The 37-year-old is a featured member of the ‘NFL Live’ crew, while she appears on other shows.
It’s understood that Kimes was always keen on staying at ESPN, but the timing of her negotiations wasn’t the best as the company laid off several big names this summer and has promised to be more stringent in negotiating with talent.
Top execs at the network were reportedly worried about possibly losing Kimes, but those fears have now been allayed.
