ESPN is attempting exhausting to not let Stephen A. Smith depart the community.
The “Worldwide Chief in Sports activities” has reportedly provided a whopping $90 million over 5 years to maintain Smith, a veteran on the hit morning present “First Take,” to remain on board, per Puck Information.
Smith’s contract with ESPN is about to run out in 2025.
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Stephen A. Smith on the Disney 2024 upfront presentation held at North Javits Heart on Might 14, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Kristina Bumphrey/Selection through Getty Pictures)
ESPN additionally reportedly pitched to Smith’s company, WME, that he may grow to be the highest-paid expertise on their group.
The deal that ESPN reportedly provided Smith would work out to $18 million per 12 months, however Puck Information is saying that Smith is in search of $7 million greater than that for his subsequent deal.
Journalist James Andrew Miller made an look lately on the “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” podcast, the place he famous Smith wanting a “huge, huge quantity” when it was time to place ink on a brand new deal.
“I believe there have been preliminary talks already which have began,” Miller mentioned of Smith and ESPN. “He’s in search of a giant, huge quantity. And I additionally really feel, given the content material world, he doesn’t even should have one other supply from one entity for that huge quantity.
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“I believe what ESPN is up in opposition to is the chance that WME may exit and create an structure the place Stephen A. has a podcast, a this, a take care of this, a take care of that, no matter, and on the finish of the day, it’s $20 million a 12 months.”
ESPN has been meting out offers in recent times to high expertise, together with Pat McAfee, who reportedly acquired a five-year, $85 million deal to maneuver his wildly-popular “The Pat McAfee Present” to the community, whereas additionally being a featured panelist on “School Gameday” amongst different gigs.
Whereas ESPN has made makes an attempt to avoid politics, the community permits Stephen A. Smith to debate something he desires on his private podcast. (Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE through Getty Pictures)
There was additionally the start of the 2022 NFL season, when ESPN lured Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to their “Monday Evening Soccer” broadcast, the place Aikman reportedly obtained the same deal to what was simply provided to Smith, based on the New York Publish.
Smith has been a long-time expertise at ESPN, becoming a member of the community in 2003 whereas serving because the Philadelphia Inquirer normal sports activities columnist, a title he held from 1994-2010. Smith’s scorching takes had been excellent to go in opposition to Skip Bayless, as “First Take” took off.
Stephen A. Smith attends a playoff basketball sport between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Enviornment on Might 8, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Pictures)
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Smith has since been the first speaking head for the present, and he additionally has his “The Stephen A. Smith Present,” the place he discusses extra than simply sports activities in the course of the podcast.
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