According to a report from Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post, Skip Bayless is leaving FS1 and his role on Undisputed. Bayless, who has been with the network for eight years, will host his final show sometime later this summer.
Shannon Sharpe, Bayless’ partner on Undisputed since its launch in 2016, left the program just over a year ago. After a successful stint on First Take, he signed a multiyear contract extension at ESPN through which he will continue the show plus make other appearances.
Although the program concept is expected to continue, it is undecided if the Undisputed brand will be utilized, according to Richard Deitsch and Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. Following the departure of Sharpe from FS1 last year, the show was revamped with co-hosts and contributors including Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin, Richard Sherman, Rachel Nichols, Lil’ Wayne and Josina Anderson.
The show routinely averaged near or over 200,000 viewers but saw a sudden decline once Sharpe left. Upon joining ESPN, Sharpe has been a part of continued record viewership for First Take. With The Volume, he co-hosts popular podcasts through a partnership with his company, Shay Shay Media, including Club Shay Shay and Nightcap.
According to Sports Media Watch, the Feb. 27 edition of Undisputed had 50,000 viewers, the lowest in the show’s history.
FS1 will reportedly expand both Speak and First Things First by half an hour each to account for the cancelation of Race Hub, the NASCAR program that had been on the air for 13 years. Moreover, The Herd host Colin Cowherd, who is also the founder of The Volume, will become a free agent next year. FS1 is currently distributed to 67.9 million homes, according to data from Nielsen Media Research.
