Smith will continue to be front-and-center on "First Take" as well as "SportsCenter"ESPN IMAGES
Stephen A. Smith's new five-year contract will make him ESPN's "highest-paid sportscaster," with an annual salary that will approach $8M per year, according to sources cited by Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. This will move Smith past Mike Greenberg's $6.5M, which was ESPN's "previous known highest salary." Smith decided to "re-up with a year left on his current deal." He will "continue to be front and center on ESPN's air with his daily morning show 'First Take,' as well as on 'SportsCenter' and the network's NBA coverage." Smith has "already started hosting Wednesday's 'SportsCenter' leading into ESPN's NBA schedule that night." It was previously reported that Smith will "give up his national ESPN Radio show next year." ESPN "wants to try to find a fit for Smith" on ESPN+, and for him to "continue to be active through his and their social media channels." Though Smith is "somewhat polarizing, one thing that can't be denied is that he works hard." He is "omnipresent on ESPN." He "still will be under the terms of the new deal, but ESPN plans to be a bit more strategic in Smith's usage with appointment viewing for 'SportsCenter'" (N.Y. POST, 11/8).
