Bob Ley Signs Long-Term Contract Extension With ESPN

Bob Ley Signs Long-Term Contract Extension With ESPN

Journalist Bob Ley has signed a long-term contract extension to remain with ESPN, the network announced Tuesday.

ESPN’s longest-serving broadcaster, Ley has been with the network since he joined “SportsCenter” as an anchor in 1979. He currently hosts “Outside the Lines,” which will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a primetime special set to air July 7 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Ley will continue to serve as host of “Outside the Lines” under the new agreement, and he will continue to serve as primary host on soccer properties, including Euro qualifiers, Euros 2016, World Cup coverage and key U.S. Men’s National Soccer team matches.

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“I am thrilled that Bob Ley will continue at ESPN — for the past 35 years he has set the standard for sports journalism and we and fans have been the beneficiary,” said ESPN President John Skipper in a release. “On the daily desk at ‘Outside the Lines,’ at Town Hall meetings and ‘SportsCenter’ specials, he has provided distinct and distinguished coverage of the most important news related to sports. No one in sports journalism stands taller in this era.”

“I’m very fortunate, each day, to continue to find the challenge in the stories and issues in our sporting culture, and equally lucky to have the time and the space to examine them, working with the most creative and dedicated staff in the business,” Ley said. “Between our reporting and analysis on ‘Outside the Lines,’ and the opportunities with our soccer coverage across the planet, I’m looking forward to our best work yet.”

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