ESPN, Stephen A. Smith Closing in On New Deal

Brian Steinberg
·2-min read

ESPN and Stephen A. Smith are close to hammering out a new contract that will give the popular Disney sports personality potential access to other parts of the Magic Kingdom.

The two sides, who have been in negotiations for several months, are said to be hopeful they can reach a deal over the next several weeks, according to a person familiar with the situation. ESPN and Disney have been in talks with Smith to devise a new pact that could involve creating a sort of “first-look” agreement for Smith-backed concepts across Disney’s general-entertainment properties, according to this person and a second familiar with the talks.

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A representative for ESPN declined to comment. WME, the agency that represents Smith, was not able to offer immediate comment.

Should the deal come to fruition, it would represent the latest in ESPN’s efforts to sign top talent to its roster. In recent years, the network has poached Troy Aikman and Joe Buck from Fox to lead the calls for “Monday Night Football”; paid handsomely to sign the outspoken Pat McAfee and license his popular YouTube program; and enlisted former Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce.

Smith, who offers no-holds-barred commentary on the popular ESPN daytime show “First Take,” has publicly suggested he would like to be the highest-paid personality at a network that also boasts popular commentators like Scott Van Pelt and Mike Greenberg. That has fueled speculation that he and ESPN might not come to terms, particularly as Disney and other media companies are struggling to keep the bulk of their revenue from linear TV coming in even as they invest heavily in streaming services and new content for them.

Smith’s current contract is said to expire in 2025. The Wall Street Journal reported in June that he had been offered $18 million a year for a new multi-year deal, representing a 50% pay bump from the $12 million a year he makes annual under his current agreement with the Disney outlet.

Smith has in recent years highlighted interests in late-night programming and political commentary. He is scheduled to be a guest on a new long-form interview show led by Fox News opinion host Sean Hannity for the Fox Nation streaming service. He has appeared on the NewsNation cable-news outlet. And he has tried his hand at a late-night-styled show on ESPN+.

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