Stephen A Smith takes offense to OutKick article about ‘First Take’ ratings

Stephen A. Smith is not happy about an OutKick article published this week about his scheduled meeting with Skip Bayless later this week.

“Instead of just celebrating Skip Bayless coming back on ‘First Take’ of the day, I’m seeing articles here on Fox News, Awful Announcing, and others, and they’re talking about ratings slippage,” Smith said on his radio show Tuesday.

He’s referring to an OutKick column published the day before Fox News put it on its home page, titled “Skip Bayless to Meet Stephen A. Smith on ESPN as First Take’s ratings slip.”

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Smith continued, “He’s going to come back because I wanted him to come back one day. Because I haven’t been with my boy in 10 years. The ratings are slipping? We’re still number one. We’ve had record ratings the last five years. At some point, that’s not going to happen, because how many records can you break?”

The proportions are slippery, indeed.

We mentioned that most of ESPN’s daily studio programming is growing by double digits. Smith’s “First Take” is different. ESPN recently published a press release with “Get Up” up 18% and “The Pat McAfee Show” up 16%. “First Take” is spread directly between the two programs and only increased by 5%, which falls below the usual bump of Big Data + Panel.

NBA PLAY RATINGS ACTUALLY NOT HIGHEST IN 33 YEARS, AS REPORTED.

We also noted that “First Take” is not only a program that does not show much growth, but it is also one that has continued to discuss political, social and racial topics. That doesn’t seem like a given.

OutKick can also tell you personally that ESPN executives have noticed “First Take’s” static views. Considering they just signed Smith to a five-year, $100 million contract, the lack of growth is troubling. ESPN paid Smith not for what he did, but for what he was expected to do over the next half decade.

During the outcry, Stephen A. reiterated that he is “still No. 1.” We’ve asked him about this claim before. It doesn’t make sense.

“First Take” is not the top show of its time, not even close. For example, Fox News Channel repeats three times the head-to-head. Smith’s program is also not No. 1 on ESPN. “PTI” said.

In fact, only “First Take”. No. 1 sports show in its time slot. That’s all. And that is nothing to brag about.

Look, every ESPN show is the highest-rated sports show in its time slot. No other sports network on cable can compete. By this metric, even “High Noon with Bomani Jones” was the number one show before its cancellation. And his estimates were rejected.

Skip Bayless is seen in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 27, 2017. (Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Pictures)

Now, to the return of Bayless.

Smith is right that it has been almost ten years since they appeared together on television. Next month will mark 10 years since Bayless left ESPN for FS1. However, that is not what Smith tells you why it’s been so long.

Bayless’ last show on FS1 was almost two years ago. He has expressed interest in meeting Smith several times. Smith also said Tuesday that Bayless jumped at the chance to return.

So, what took so long? The answer is Stephen A. Until now, he didn’t want Bayless back. He said no publicly, starting a week after Bayless left FS1 and lost his spot on television.

“Regarding Skip Bayless, ESPN has not negotiated with me,” Smith said of ESPN putting out a statement that it is not interested in bringing Bayless back in 2024. “It wasn’t necessary.

“But honestly, and in the interest of transparency, if they had asked me, I would have said the same thing that ESPN said. Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, together as partners, working across from each other in the debate show, it’s over. It’s over. And this is not the first time I’ve said it. Nothing bad or shade has moved without the casting of Bay.”

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That part is correct. Smith has said many times before that he doesn’t want Bayless back on “First Take”.

Then his ratings began to slip.

Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42 Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)

Finally, Stephen A. told me directly last November in a text change that he was “done” talking to me and reading my columns. Apparently, it isn’t.

Perhaps he would like to share his stories further. I will give him the opportunity to do so privately and on OutKick. We hope you are considerate.