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How is Stephen A valuable for ESPN?
Posted on 7/21/26 at 3:45 pm
Posted on 7/21/26 at 3:45 pm
Stephen A keeps getting massive contract extensions, and ESPN keeps having to do massive layoffs to be able to afford him.
What value does he bring to their brand? Nobody actually watches First Take, it’s just background noise at sports bars and gyms and doctors offices. I understand that the value isn’t in the show itself, it’s the social media clips generated out of the show that give them the best reach. But I seriously struggle to see how clip-farming alone is worth that much money.
If ESPN laid off Stephen A today, who would pick him up, how quickly, and what would his role be?
What value does he bring to their brand? Nobody actually watches First Take, it’s just background noise at sports bars and gyms and doctors offices. I understand that the value isn’t in the show itself, it’s the social media clips generated out of the show that give them the best reach. But I seriously struggle to see how clip-farming alone is worth that much money.
If ESPN laid off Stephen A today, who would pick him up, how quickly, and what would his role be?
18
Posted on 7/21/26 at 3:54 pm to YoungSteele830
quote:
How is Stephen A valuable
You talking about him
quote:
Nobody actually watches First Take, it’s just background noise at sports bars and gyms and doctors offices
But is anyone seeing/hearing the commercials
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 3:56 pm
Posted on 7/21/26 at 4:55 pm to YoungSteele830
His radio show on Sirius is great. There’s value! You have to be pretty low IQ to think he’s got zero value
Posted on 7/21/26 at 5:04 pm to YoungSteele830
The same reason Pat is still there. Good, wrong, or indifferent, those are the main two faces of ESPN.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 5:37 pm to danilo
quote:
You talking about him
I don’t see why people have a hard time grasping this in the Year of our Lord 2026. Nobody comments on logical discussions between Freddie and Fitzsimmons. EVERYBODY will comment on a dumbass hot take from Stephen A or Skip Bayless. Rage bait drives interactions and makes money.
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 5:42 pm
Posted on 7/21/26 at 5:41 pm to YoungSteele830
Hes special to them
Posted on 7/21/26 at 5:53 pm to YoungSteele830
Or maybe the layoffs are to help finance the gargantuan TV contracts given to the SEC and, most curiously the Big 12 (who got a massive raise after losing their 2 big water-carriers OU and Texas).
Posted on 7/21/26 at 5:53 pm to danilo
quote:
You talking about him
I've always thought this response was dumb. How does talking about someone on a message board create value around that person?
Posted on 7/21/26 at 5:58 pm to VADawg
You see there’s this thing called social media…
Posted on 7/21/26 at 6:52 pm to ForeverGator
Pat was ESPNs savior with College Gameday.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 6:56 pm to YoungSteele830
quote:
What value does he bring to their brand?
...he IS their brand these days.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:08 pm to YoungSteele830
quote:
How is Stephen A valuable for ESPN?
He knows where the bodies are buried
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:16 pm to YoungSteele830
I admit I’m really ignorant when it comes to media and how it actually makes money. I’ve always kind of wondered what it means when people say things like “well he gets clicks”, because then I wonder who the hell is clicking to see this. I guess I just assume everyone is like me and does not click on stuff with Stephen A. on whatever platform it is. It’s somehow making money I guess, why else would the contracts be so huge for people like that.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:17 pm to YoungSteele830
Because you are talking about him.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:18 pm to YoungSteele830
Mina Kimes makes over $2 Millions at ESPN. What exactly does she bring to the table?
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:24 pm to hg
quote:
Mina Kimes makes over $2 Millions at ESPN. What exactly does she bring to the table?
She knows her stuff and she’s easy on the eyes.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:27 pm to YoungSteele830
Morons keep posting links to his videos to get outrage back-pats on Tigerdroppings
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:30 pm to YoungSteele830
People hate him, outrage drives viewership. The number 1 audience of ESPN day time TV is boomers
Posted on 7/21/26 at 8:35 pm to Revorising
Lol. Pat is awful. College Gameday is barely watchable anymore.
Regardless, ESPN plasters him and Stephen A everywhere and with everything. They’re untouchable. Almost everyone else (save a few of the Herbstreit, Fowler, etc.) is expendable in the eyes of the mouse.
Regardless, ESPN plasters him and Stephen A everywhere and with everything. They’re untouchable. Almost everyone else (save a few of the Herbstreit, Fowler, etc.) is expendable in the eyes of the mouse.
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