Photo Credit: LESLIE BARBARO / For the Inquirer

First Take Becoming Networks’ Worst Rated Show Since Stephen A. Got Rid Of Max Kellerman

Last year, ESPN made Stephen A. Smith its highest-paid sportscaster ever, when they signed him to a new five-year contract. The annual salary for the broadcasting legend sums up to at least $8 million, according to various reports.

So Smith can definitely be considered the face of ESPN. That he gets what he wants could be seen when the network got rid of Max Kellerman on First Take, as Smith reportedly requested.

But we also know that Stephen A. Smith isn’t always right. Getting rid of Max Kellerman now definitely seems like a pretty bad idea – at least when we take a look at the ratings.

Ever since Kellerman’s departure, the ratings have fallen dramatically, to a point where First Take is essentially becoming the worst show on the entire network. Even ‘Get Up’, which airs an hour before First Take, generates more ratings than First Take.

Stephen A. said on radio he saw numbers that suggested @FirstTake‘s viewers wanted Max Kellerman off. The early ratings say otherwise.

This week, First Take is losing to Get Up and NFL Live, in addition to PTI and ATH:

FT: 398k
Get Up: 408k
NFL Live: 413k
ATH: 469k
PTI: 652k

— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) September 24, 2021