Pat McAfee is taking his signature digital show to ESPN, the New York Post reported Tuesday ahead of The Walt Disney Company’s Upfront event. He made an appearance at Tuesday’s Upfront event and explained the thinking behind his move.
“I feel like we are sitting at a beautiful intersection in the history of media that has never happened before,” McAfee said. “Digital has become an influence; it has the structure; it has the ability to reach millions and millions of people literally on a daily basis…. [ESPN] very much understood that we need to embrace both what tomorrow is and what today is. I have the exact same vision.”
Reports over the last several weeks have alluded to the move, and McAfee tweeting out a photo with The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger only added fuel to the fire. He appeared on his show remotely earlier in the day, and will also be bringing the cast of his program with him to ESPN as part of the deal. The show will be live-streamed on ESPN’s YouTube channel, and also be on the ESPN linear television channel, streamed on ESPN+ and available to watch on the ESPN App. It will air following ESPN’s signature morning programming – Get Up! and First Take – and the format will remain unchanged.
McAfee stated on his show last week that his “Up to Something Season” had concluded and to expect an announcement about his future in the next 10 days. He has worked with “The Worldwide Leader” in a variety of different roles, most recently appearing as an analyst on College GameDay. Additionally, he and his show participated in various alternate telecasts of college football games on ESPN2. Outside of ESPN, McAfee made a surprise entrance at WrestleMania 39, and is in the midst of a four-year contract with FanDuel, which he has hinted at leaving.
McAfee had stated that ceding creative control of his program is non-negotiable, as he seems to have been looking for a broadcast partner to assist with production, staffing and other needs. He has now found his match with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, and despite the move, will still continue keeping the show on YouTube in some form. He and his wife recently welcomed their first child into the world, and took meetings around Los Angeles shortly thereafter.
“This is big,” McAfee said on his show last week. “It is very large. I think some would call it historic…. Just know that we are thankful for everybody and yeah, it’s probably going to be in books someday. I’m very, very fortunate, happy, lucky, thankful [and] grateful.”
