Viewers Prefer Stephen A. Smith’s ‘First Take’ Over Skip Bayless’ ‘Undisputed’

*ESPN’s “First Take” continues to outperform “Undisputed” on FS1 following Shannon Sharpe’s exit.

We reported previously that Sharpe joined Stephen A. Smith on Sept. 4 after leaving FS1’s “Undisputed” in June. According to The Street, the viewership for his debut month was the highest in the show’s history — up 18% from last year.

The show has since seen a steady increase in viewers over the past three months. 

According to Mediaite, “First Take” averaged 554,000 viewers from September to November, while “Undisputed” garnered 120,000. November was the most-watched month in “First Take” history, with an average of 614,000 viewers.

Sharpe and Bayless launched FS1’s “Undisputed” in 2016, but growing tension between the pair over the past year allegedly prompted Sharpe to leave the show this summer. 

Following Sharpe’s exit, the F1 took a brief hiatus before returning with a new format and new co-hosts with Bayless. Despite the changes, it hasn’t dethroned “First Take” as the most buzzed-about sports talk show on TV.

Meanwhile, when Smith previously appeared on The Joe Budden Podcast, he noted that Sharpe was pushed out of Fox Sports 1.

“I’m telling you he was pushed out,” Smith said. “But, then again, that’s his story to tell.”

Smith added, “But, I’m telling you what I know and I’m giving you facts. And so, when I saw that…it wasn’t just that I know the brother’s talented. It wasn’t just that I know that he’s a three-time Super Bowl champion and an NFL Hall of Famer. It wasn’t just that I knew he was in television the last six years. I saw me from the standpoint of I was let go in 2009 and left for dead.”

According to the New York Post, Sharpe co-hosts with Smith every Monday and Tuesday during the NFL season.

READ MORE: Shannon Sharpe’s ‘First Take’ Debut Breaks Records

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