Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy spoke candidly on the latest edition of The Unnamed Show about the recent ratings for the FS1 morning program Wake Up Barstool, calling the initial numbers “awful” but emphasizing patience as the show finds its footing.
“The FOX ratings for Wake Up Barstool, I think came out. Those are awful,” Portnoy said, reflecting on the viewership for the new show as part of Barstool Sports partnership with FOX Sports. Recently viewership data was released via several online outlets with an average audience for the first week of programming 16,500 average viewers. A source with knowledge of the viewership figures confirmed to Barrett media the figures released online were “in the ballpark” of the actual figures.
Despite the figures, Portnoy added that expectations for a quick breakthrough may be unrealistic. Given the program’s limited promotion ahead of the show’s launch.
“I don’t know what to expect. I think they want a lot of online. I don’t know what they were before. It wasn’t like we had some gigantic promo. We just kind of did it,” he said, highlighting the show’s reliance on organic growth rather than traditional marketing efforts.
Portnoy acknowledged that even with high-caliber talent and solid content, numbers might still be modest in the early stages. “That could have been like the best show in the history of the world with the best people the way it’s promoted, I don’t think you’d expect much different numbers. We want to build it up,” said Portnoy. “I think obviously, if it goes 20,000 or whatever it was, and next week, you’re down to 500 people, that, to me, is a bigger red flag.”
Despite the rough start, Portnoy expressed a measured view of the program’s early execution. “I know this. I don’t love my Monday show,” Portnoy admitted.
He noted that his instincts about content quality are usually reliable. While the current product is “okay to decent,” he sees room for improvement.
“I thought it was better with three people instead of four. I’m hosting. I like doing like a rundown host style. We’re bouncing around segments. It’s a lot of work,” said Portnoy. “We’ve only done two. I haven’t been, like, nailed it. That’s great. I don’t, and I feel like I have a pretty good idea when I do my own content.”
Looking ahead, Portnoy said the goal is to continue refining the Monday episodes while allowing other hosts creative freedom. “I am putting thought, effort, as much time as I can, into the Mondays, and everybody has their own show, and hopefully it’ll continue to improve,” he said.
Wake Up Barstool represents Barstool Sports’ ongoing effort to expand its digital-first brand into traditional television. Portnoy’s candid comments underscore the challenges of translating online success to linear broadcast platforms. While ratings remain modest, the show’s leadership appears committed to iterative growth, trusting that content quality and audience engagement will improve over time.
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Getting rid of the previous sports talk shows was a huge mistake for fs1. It’s obvious they are looking to save a few dollars, or something.