After Dramatic ESPN Exit, Norby Williamson Joins FanDuel Sports Network

Just a week into its post-bankruptcy life, regional sports network operator Main Street Sports Group is making a big move by hiring former ESPN senior executive Norby Williamson to lead production at FanDuel Sports Network. 

The move, first reported by Awful Announcing, will see Williamson take on his first major in-house role since leaving ESPN nearly a year ago. Over a nearly four-decade run with the Disney-owned outlet, Williamson rose to executive editor and head of event and studio production, becoming one of the top leaders at the company before leaving last April. 

That departure was fueled by an apparent “disconnect” between Williamson and Burke Magnus, ESPN president of content, and high-profile talent Pat McAfee publicly called Williamson a “rat” who was trying to sabotage his show. 

At FanDuel Sports Network, however, Williamson has an opportunity for a fresh start, with some potentially large upside. In completing its reorganization, Main Street Sports (formerly known as Diamond Sports Group) now has local rights for 13 NBA teams, eight NHL teams, and eight MLB clubs. The company also will get a streaming boost through a large-scale distribution deal with Amazon. 

The senior-level role will see Williamson lead production across the 16 individual FanDuel Sports Networks. The RSN space, broadly, remains challenged, and Main Street Sports certainly doesn’t have the scale or resources as ESPN. Even in that more turbulent landscape, though, fan consumption of locally produced games is still a key part of the overall economic model for MLB, the NBA, and the NHL. 

Williamson’s new title will be president of production and programming, and he will start the role Jan. 13.

“Adding an esteemed producer of Norby’s caliber strengthens our ability to seize on the opportunities ahead as we begin this transformative new chapter for Main Street Sports,” said Main Street Sports CEO David Preschlack in a statement.