Stephen A. Smith is one of the busiest men in media. Could he add another component — like a cable news TV show — to his future? He didn’t shoot it down.
What We Know: Smith has made appearances on Fox News, ABC News, CBS News, and NewsNation in recent months. While speaking at the Barrett Media Audio Summit on Tuesday afternoon, Smith said he does have an interest in the medium.
What They Said: “I’m never going to be one-dimensional. If the right network came along with the right offer, I would do it. But it can’t be at the expense of the things that I love doing. What has shocked me is how much I have enjoyed doing political talk, doing my show on a Sirius XM every Wednesday night. When I get off the air, I can go at least two more hours, I got that much more to say. I always feel like, ‘Damn it. I have more to say. The show’s over.’ Every Wednesday night. I didn’t expect that.
“When I think about doing a news show, I fantasize about having a platform where I have folks from both sides of the aisle, and we’re just talking. Yeah, I’m gonna give my opinions. Yeah, you’re gonna see me with my opening monologue. And I’m gonna bring the pain, make no mistake about it. Do I think I could do a new show? You damn right I can. With ease, I might add. It ain’t hard, not for me.” -Stephen A. Smith
What’s at Stake: Smith is a powerful voice in both sports and his show with SiriusXM. His political show continues to grow and create impact. It’s undeniable that he’d create buzz on cable news.
What It Means: Smith did note that the current state of cable news doesn’t appeal to him due to its partisan nature. However, his openness to the medium shows he’s open to virtually every opportunity as long as it makes business sense for him and the company.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
