While ESPN parted ways with dozens of on-air and behind-the-camera talent with layoffs in 2023, it also hired Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee to boost its ratings. Just a few weeks into the experiment, the decision is already paying off.
After leaving Fox Sports 1’s “Undisputed” with Skip Bayless, Sharpe became one of the most sought-after free agents in sports media. He received interest from multiple networks, before ultimately agreeing to join Stephen A. Smith as a part-time debater on ‘First Take’ for the 2023 NFL season.
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Since making his debut on September 4, serving in a complementary role, the former NFL star is having a measurable impact on ESPN’s television ratings, especially in comparison to competitor Fox Sports 1.
According to Front Office Sports, Sharpe has appeared in three of the four most-watched “First Tae” episodes this year. Monday’s show, recapping Week 5, averaged 852,000 viewers in the early window.
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For context, “First Take” had 892,000 viewers back in January in the first episode after Damar Hamlin went into on-field cardiac arrest. Thanks to Sharpe, ESPN is pulling in some of its highest viewership numbers and TV ratings for “First Take” in some time.
More importantly, ESPN is dominating its competition. Monday’s “Undisputed:, which competes directly with ESPN, averaged just 172,000 viewers. It matches the trends between the two shows throughout the NFL season.
Sharpe’s decision to leave “Undisputed” behind is another sign that Bayless’ notoriety is fading, with FS1 consistently losing viewers since Sharpe’s departure. As for ESPN, even with the Pat McAfee Show paying nearly $2 million total for weekly interviews with Nick Saban and Aaron Rodgers, the network seems to be quite pleased with the results.