ESPN Hands Stephen A Smith 5-Year $100 Million Deal; Cancels Around the Horn
The world’s most popular sports network continues to undergo immense changes. Some people are out. Some are still in and kicking. Others have retired and said their goodbyes. Nevertheless, one man emerges from the chaos un-scorched. On Thursday it was announced that ESPN is handing Stephen A Smith a 5-Year $100 million deal… literally the “Juan Soto and Dak Prescott” of sportscaster contracts.
Sources say the deal includes:
-Ability to explore other interests (one being politics)
-Freedom to grow production company
-An expanded presence on ESPN’s NFL coverage
Seriously, this is wild. Unprecedented. Athlete money size contracts are now going down at ESPN. Did we ever think we would see this? Well, now we have. Moreover, as the network continues to revamp, and rethink programming, one thing is for sure; they are one hundred percent behind Smith’s style of reporting.
Smith has been at ESPN since 2003 and has risen to prominence with the network. With his “in your face” takes and analysis. According to sources, Smith’s $20 million annual salary is the most ESPN has ever paid to an on-air personality without ties to a licensing deal.
Furthermore, Yahoo Sports reports, “The Athletic put Smith’s pervious deal at $12M per year, which makes the new contract a 66% pay increase. ESPN gets a good return on its investment given the number of dayparts and shows on which he appears. Smith is, in his own parlance, ‘box office’ for the network, drawing both praise and criticism for his hot takes — but always drawing attention.”
So then, since he’s got the eyes, he gets the prize. Smith will reportedly step back from being a regular on “NBA Countdown,” ESPN’s top NBA pregame show, after the network signed a licensing deal with TNT Sports for “Inside The NBA.” However, Smith will still make guest appearances on the program.
ESPN Hands Stephen A Smith 5-Year $100 Million Deal; Cancels Around the Horn
Nevertheless, getting to another show, Around the Horn. A program many of us fondly remember coming home after school to watch. ESPN announced on Tuesday that Around the Horn would air its last episode on Friday, May 23. But why?
Interestingly, it’s not because the show doesn’t have viewers. It mainly just doesn’t fit with the network’s vibes and other content anymore. Regarding Around the Horn, Sports journalist Bryan Curtis told SI,
“These shows just don’t have a place at that network anymore. There’s no room for them. There’s room for Stephen A. [Smith], there’s room for [Pat] McAfee, but other than PTI, which may be grandfathered in until Tony [Kornheiser] and Mike [Wilbon] don’t want to do it anymore, I just don’t think ESPN is interested in that kind of show.”
Well, guess that’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. It’s sad to see an old fave sports debate show leave the air. But real ones shall never forget. So then, mark a calendar to watch the final episode when it is televised on May 23, after 23 years and more than 4,900 episodes.
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