Stephen A. Smith and ESPN Agree to $100 Million Deal That Will See the Star Remain on ‘First Take’
First Take fans can breathe a sigh of relief, Stephen A. Smith isn’t going anywhere.
According to a new report from The Athletic, ESPN and Smith have agreed on a new contract that will see the network’s premiere star make upwards of $100 million over the next five years.
Photo: TV Line
The last time we checked in negotiations between Smith and ESPN, it was reported that two sides were closing in on a new deal. The prevailing notion has been that in addition to becoming ESPN’s highest-paid talking head, Smith also wanted more creative freedom.
Smith Will Stay on ‘First Day’ But Have the Freedom to Branch Out
To that end, Smith’s new contract will ensure that he continues to star on First Take while also reducing his appearance on other shows. This will seemingly free him up to pursue other interests, including politics.
In addition to his work at ESPN, Smith has already branched out and created The Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube. He has also been a frequent guest on political shows, including Hannity and NewsNation with Chris Cuomo.
Photo: Fox News
Additionally, Smith has shown interest in hosting a late-night show (perhaps replacing Jimmy Kimmel) and has appeared on General Hospital.
Smith Will End His
The biggest change to come out of Smith’s new contract will no longer appear regularly on NBA Countdown. He may still, however, make special appearances. With ESPN acquiring the broadcasting rights to Inside the NBA, it remains to be seen how the network handles the future of its own NBA pregame show.
Photo: TNT
No matter what happens, ESPN has kept one of the biggest sports media stars in-house. For that, Jimmy Pitaro is likely breathing a sigh of relief.
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