SiriusXM has announced it has signed a multi-year deal with ESPN media personality and New York Times bestselling author Stephen A. Smith. Smith revealed the news during an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” on SiriusXM on Wednesday morning, confirming he will host and executive produce two original shows set to debut in September.
As part of the new agreement, Smith will return to daily sports talk radio with a show airing weekdays on Mad Dog Sports Radio. The show will feature his trademark unfiltered takes and bold opinions on the day’s biggest sports headlines. It will join a lineup that includes the channel’s signature program, Mad Dog Unleashed, hosted by Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo—Smith’s frequent sparring partner on ESPN’s “First Take.”
“To say that I’m excited would be an understatement,” Smith said in a statement. “I’ve been on Mad Dog before, had the time of my life. So I’m loving the fact that I get to reunite with my guy, Mad Dog, on his turf. That, in itself, is a beautiful thing.”
In addition, Smith will launch a separate weekly program focused on current events, pop culture, and social commentary. The show will air on a non-sports SiriusXM channel to be announced in the coming months. This new platform will allow Smith to explore topics beyond the sports world, including politics, entertainment, and social issues.
Both programs will offer opportunities for listener interaction and will feature interviews with high-profile guests from various fields. As part of the deal, Smith will also host multiple live events exclusively for SiriusXM subscribers throughout the year.
“To then add a weekly show where I have a potent platform to discuss riveting subjects in the world of pop culture, politics and social commentary… let’s just say it doesn’t get any better than that,” said Smith.
Smith’s daily sports show will premiere Tuesday, Sept. 2. The weekly non-sports program will also debut in September, with an official date still to be announced.
“Stephen A. is a singular talent and one of the most influential voices in media today,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s president and chief content officer. “While so many people know him for his unparalleled sports commentary, his interests extend far beyond the borders of sports and into the worlds of politics, news, entertainment and so much more. SiriusXM gives him the unfiltered creative freedom to delve into any topic and allows him to showcase his unique talents and perspectives.”
Smith currently appears on ESPN’s First Take alongside Russo and Molly Qerim and serves as an analyst on NBA Countdown for both ESPN and ABC. He previously hosted radio shows for ESPN and Fox Sports Radio.
Before his rise in television and radio, Smith began his career in print journalism, working for outlets including the Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News and Record, New York Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer, where he spent 17 years covering the NBA and later serving as a general sports columnist.
In 2023, Smith released his bestselling memoir, Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes, sharing his personal journey for the first time.
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