The arrival of Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has been a massive business win for ESPN in the early going.
Sharpe left FS1 earlier this summer after co-hosting the “Undisputed” program with Skip Bayless for seven yeas. The three-time Super Bowl champion later agreed to join ESPN’s “First Take” show, hosted by Stephen A. Smith, on a part-time basis.
Per a report from Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, three of the most-watched “First Take” episodes of 2023 have featured the NFL legend himself. As well, “First Take” is crushing Bayless’ “Undisputed” show on FS1:
“After being courted by Smith, Sharpe joined “First Take” on a part-time basis on Sep. 4. But in only six weeks on the air, the Pro Football Hall of Famer has already co-starred in three of the four most-watched “First Take” episodes this year, said sources.
Monday’s top-rated “First Take” edition with Smith, Sharpe, and Molly Qerim drew 852,000 viewers…nearly five times the 172,000 viewers for Skip Bayless’ “Undisputed” on Monday.”
According to McCarthy, Sharpe’s debut on “First Take” back on Sept. 4 averaged a whopping 727,000 viewers. His appearance on the Sept. 12 show had 726,000 viewers, McCarthy added.
Long before he started his successful NFL media career, the 55-year-old Sharpe was one of football’s elite tight end. The four-time First-team All-Pro won back-to-back Super Bowl championships with John Elway’s Broncos in the 1997 and ’98 seasons before adding a third ring with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000.
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The eight-time Pro Bowler was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team, finishing with 815 catches for 100,60 yards and 62 touchdowns. He retired from football after the 2003 season.
Following Sharpe’s departure, FS1 decided to bring in several guests to work alongside Bayless. The lineup features rapper Lil Wayne, former NFL stars Richard Sherman, Michael Irvin and Keyshawn Johnson, reporter Josina Anderson and former ESPN personality Rachel Nichols.
