ESPN‘s superstar commentator Stephen A. Smith has inked a new long-term deal with the sports media giant.
The deal, which could top nine figures per The Athletic, will see Smith continue to lead First Take, his flagship weekday show. He will also appear on other ESPN programming.
However it also allows Smith to pursue other deals for programming that touches politics, culture, or other topics.
“I’m happy and honored to remain a member of the Disney/ESPN family for, at least, the next five years,” Smith said. “There’s only bigger and bigger things ahead. It starts with continuing to put in that work. See y’all soon.”
“Stephen A. works incredibly hard to elevate the sports conversation day-in and day-out and we are grateful he will remain at ESPN,” added Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman. “He is a difference maker, and fans are captivated by his deep sports knowledge, strong opinions and unmistakable flair.”
When The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Smith last year about hus contract discussions with ESPN, Smith suggested that he was thinking bigger and broader about what he could be doing for the company, which is navigating the shift from linear TV to digital.
“When we talk about adapting, ESPN is adapting from the standpoint of looking at the media landscape, the advent of podcasting and podcasters, the digital stratosphere, YouTube becoming the new television platform in a lot of people’s eyes and adapting to the inordinate amount of competition that’s coming from other places and saying, ‘okay, how can we maintain relevancy and ultimately continue to stand afloat above the crowd?’” Smith said. “That’s the challenge that ESPN has, and I view myself as a pivotal component to ensuring that that remains the state of affairs when it comes to ESPN and Walt Disney.”