FIRST TAKEOVER
Stephen A. Smith tipped to replace Skip Bayless in shock FS1 switch and quit First Take as $25m ESPN deal talks continue
Smith and Bayless were former colleagues at ESPN
FOX Sports viewers are desperate to see Stephen A. Smith take over from Skip Bayless on Undisputed.
Later this summer, Bayless, 72, is set to leave the FS1 sports debate show behind after eight years.
5
5
5
Stephen A. and Skip were formerly sparring partners on First Take before Bayless left ESPN for Fox in 2016.
Smith has helped turn First Take into a daytime ratings behemoth alongside host Molly Qerim and fellow lead analyst Shannon Sharpe.
However, he is locked in contract talks with ESPN before his deal expires next July.
Stephen A. has been with ESPN since 2003 and is a key part of their NBA coverage.
READ MORE ON FIRST TAKE
He also hosts his podcast The Stephen A. Smith Show, which is outside of the ESPN umbrella
Reports suggest Stephen A. wants to become the highest-paid analyst on the sports network.
He is looking for a deal worth around $25 million a year, per Puck.news.
And with his future still undecided, some fans have tipped him for a surprise mega-money switch to Fox.
Most read in American Football
"Plot twist Stephen A goes to FS1 JOINS UNDISPUTED gets paid massive money and a guarantee for his own late night talk show on fox in the future," speculated one fan on X.
"Incoming Skip and Stephen A. Smith network swap? Skip back to First Take w/ Shannon. Stephen A gets biggest bag in sports journalism w Fox," wrote another.
‘Where are you guys’ First Take viewers threaten to ‘switch to Undisputed’ as Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim absent
First Take and Undisputed have gone up against each other in the same 10 am timeslot over recent years.
The ESPN show has won out in the ratings war, recently averaging 482,000 viewers through April.
"I want to be No. 1," Smith told Bloomberg’s The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly in May.
"But I think a couple of weeks ago, we won by a 10-to-1 margin.
"It’s been very, very lopsided. And I take no joy in saying that, because I want Skip to be successful.
"I’m going to always be grateful for what he did to me."
Sharpe made the jump to First Take last September after leaving Skip and Undisputed behind.
Despite Skip's departure, the show is expected to continue without him, per the New York Post.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
"People hate on him, but forget how big Skip Bayless really was. Skip basically launched Stephen A and Shannon's sportscaster careers. He can take and go where wants to. Either way, Undisputed will not be the same without Skip," wrote one fan on X.
"He fell off without Shannon Sharpe anyways," claimed another.
"Nobody watches this show now," said a third.
"Bring the band back together at ESPN!" demanded a fourth.
Smith is currently enjoying a lengthy summer vacation from First Take.
He last appeared with Sharpe on the show on July 2.
The 56-year-old's podcast has branched out into politics in recent months and he even made a shock appearance during NewsNation's coverage of the recent presidential debate.
Stephen A. had to ask ESPN for permission to start the pod and has praised the "incredible" support he has received from executives.
"I like talking politics," Smith told The Rich Eisen Show earlier this month.
"I like talking about some of the political issues that are percolating and are permeating throughout our society and beyond.
Read More on The US Sun
"When [President of ESPN] Jimmy Pitaro arrived around 2018, he wanted us to veer away from politics and he was absolutely right because it was hurting the network.
"I completely supported him then. I completely support him now."
5
5