How much has ESPN changed since Stephen A. Smith joined the network?
T.Schneider/Depositphotos ESPN was already a major sports operation ESPN Inc. was already a large sports media operation when Stephen A. Smith joined in 2003 as an NBA Shootaround analyst. That year, the company also launched ESPN HD for high-definition television coverage. By 2003, ESPN also operated ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio, and ESPN.com. Smith entered a…
ESPN, established as a major sports media operation in 2003, welcomed Stephen A. Smith as an NBA Shootaround analyst that year. By then, the company already operated ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio, and ESPN.com. Smith's early work on the network included various programs and hosting roles, ultimately leading to his own show on ESPN2 in 2005 titled "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith."
He later joined First Take full-time in 2011, becoming a central figure in the program's growth. First Take's viewership surged by 33% in year-to-date figures by September 2012, and by 2014, it had become ESPN2's most-watched studio show. The program expanded beyond television, generating 250 million YouTube views and reaching 4.5 million social followers in 2023.
In 2025, First Take set another audience record with 517,000 viewers, marking its most-watched calendar year. Stephen A. Smith signed a new multi-year ESPN agreement in March 2025, securing his role as a featured commentator and executive producer across multiple ESPN programs. Meanwhile, ESPN expanded its offerings with the launch of ESPN+ in 2018, providing live events, original programming, and on-demand content to subscribers.
The company secured major media rights for NBA and WNBA, ensuring extensive basketball coverage across television and streaming platforms.
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