ESPN host Stephen A. Smith stated talks a couple of contract renewal with the Disney-owned sports activities outlet have been “constructive,” however he firmly denied a report his renewal could also be value $120 million.
The favored commentator, a ubiquitous presence throughout ESPN who additionally harbors ambitions to discover new horizons like late-night speak throughout the Disney universe, made the feedback after calling in to Christopher “Mad Canine” Russo’s day by day present on SiriusXM. Russo is a weekly visitor on ESPN’s Smith-hosted First Take.
“Talks have been constructive and useful however we haven’t reached an settlement but and till that comes, so far as I’m involved, I’ve received six months or so to go to do the most effective job I presumably can do,” Smith stated. His contract is formally as a result of expire on June 30.
Teased by Russo in regards to the eye-popping worth of the contract, Smith dismissed a report earlier this month by The Athletic pegging it at $120 million, happening to briefly elaborate on his dealmaking method.
“I can guarantee you it’s not for $120 million. That may be a lie. That’s not true,” he stated. “Anyone that tells you that cash doesn’t matter is mendacity so I might by no means insult you or your viewers’s intelligence by saying such a factor. The cash does matter however the cash is there. That’s not the problem. ESPN and I don’t have a difficulty with the cash. For me personally, there are quite a lot of different issues that I wish to do and I would like the liberty to do it. We reside in a special world and having the ability to diversify your portfolio and do issues outdoors of that one job that you could have is extremely essential to me. So as a result of that’s of significance to me, that’s the type of factor that we’ve to work out.”
Each side have been “receptive” to one another, Smith stated. “Hopefully we’ll attain an accord and I’ll be there for years to return and if it doesn’t work out then it doesn’t work out.”
Along with internet hosting First Take and showing as an analyst throughout a number of dayparts and platforms, Smith has a weekly podcast outdoors of ESPN’s auspices that goes past sports activities subjects. He additionally has had a recurring performing function ABC’s long-running cleaning soap opera Common Hospital, an indication of his curiosity in having a presence in lots of corners of the Disney empire.
The talks are taking part in out at a time when Disney and ESPN have been focusing their expertise spending on a a lot smaller roster of high names. After layoffs in 2022 and 2023 noticed some acquainted faces go away the community, the corporate made important investments in licensing Pat McAfee’s YouTube present and still have expressed optimism about re-upping Smith.
Disney and ESPN are dealing with a significant crossroads in 2025 as they get set to launch a stand-alone streaming model of ESPN.
