ESPN's Skip Bayless is leaving the net after 12 years when his contract expires in August, and Bayless and his reps "have been talking with Fox Sports executives about the 64-year-old joining that network and having an afternoon debate show on FS1 built around him," according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Fox Sports National Networks President Jamie Horowitz has "long been a fan of Bayless and was the lead executive on 'First Take' through many of its most controversial days." Sources said that FS1 is expected to "announce in the not-too-distant future that Bayless has signed with them -- and likely for" about $5-6M per year. ESPN execs "praised Bayless on his way out and said he would work on 'First Take' through the end of the NBA season." ESPN Exec VP/Production Norby Williamson said that Bayless "made the decision to leave." Williamson: "We wanted Skip to stay and we had discussions with him, but he ended up making the decision." Deitsch noted ESPN's offer to Bayless was "believed to be" in the $4M-per-year range. Williamson "would not give a timeline on announcing replacements." Sources said that Max Kellerman and Will Cain are "leading candidates to replace Bayless" on "First Take" (SI.com, 4/26). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes he does not "get the sense that Bayless is leaving because of any concerns at ESPN about paying high-priced talent while it is losing subscribers to cord-cutting." The move appears to be motivated by Bayless, "flush with nearly a decade of rising success at ESPN, looking to receive greater riches and, possibly, more control" at FS1 (N.Y. TIMES, 4/27).
TWO PEAS IN A POD: Bayless addressed his upcoming departure from ESPN on this morning's "First Take," saying, "I do want to thank the many people who responded by social media yesterday. Much love even to the haters. But most of all, I want to thank this man sitting across from me for all he has done for me. I am going to shake his hand and I am going to tell him what I told him off the air last Friday: I love you, man. And that is from the bottom of my heart.” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith responded, “I love you back, bro, and this is a great opportunity for you." He added, "I have often said this on many occasions, and I will repeat it one last time: One of the greatest honors of my career was when you called and asked me to do this show. … You saw what this show could be with the two of us, and you made it happen. You will forever be synonymous with ‘First Take.’" Bayless, to Smith: “You and I had the greatest times of my career sitting right here across from each other at this debate table” (“First Take,” ESPN2, 4/27).
NEW DIRECTION? In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes it has been "widely speculated ESPN will look to find Bayless soon-to-be former stablemate Stephen A. Smith a new partner" for "First Take." However, sources said that ESPN "could go in a different direction," like making Smith a "solo act and sole star" of the show. Tilting the show toward Smith "is an intriguing option." He had "major chemistry with Bayless that could be hard to duplicate" for the next co-host, who would "enter talking under a lot of pressure" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/27).
DOMINO EFFECT: SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy noted NBC's "master stroke" acquisition of Mike Tirico "simultaneously strengthens NBC -- and greatly weakens" ESPN. Tirico is the "most talented, versatile play-by-play talent at ESPN," which is "why he gets the biggest assignments." NBC is "launching a cruise missile into the heart of the bucolic ESPN campus in Connecticut that will roil the TV sports landscape for years to come." Tirico with one stroke "sets up himself as the successor to both the 71-year-old Al Michaels on 'Sunday Night Football' and the 64-year old Bob Costas on Olympics coverage" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 4/26).
