ESPN Reaches Deal With Stephen A. Smith

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

 ESPN has signed veteran TV sports personality Stephen A. Smith to a new multi-year, multi-platform deal, the network said Tuesday.

The new deal calls for Smith, co-host of the network’s sports talk series First Take, to be seen and heard on ESPN-distributed properties on multiple platforms, said the network.

Smith, who currently hosts a daily show on satellite radio SiriusXM, will also continue to serve as a major contributor to SportsCenter, as well as other ESPN shows and properties.

Smith joined ESPN in 2003 as an NBA studio analyst and reporter.

"Stephen A. is one of the strongest and most distinct voices in sports commentary today and he will continue to enliven a wide variety of ESPN television and audio offerings with his thought-provoking takes on the news of the day and topical issues where sports and culture intersect,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production in a statement.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.