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First Take Topics Set the Table for Further Debate
Weekly Appearances by First Take Featured Commentator Stephen A. Smith
Callers & Guests React to First Take Discussion & Drive Conversation
ESPN Radio will launch a new, highly interactive weekday afternoon sports talk show, First Take, Your Take with Jason Fitz, beginning January 20 at 1 p.m. ET. The two-hour show – hosted by Fitz and simulcast on ESPNEWS – will further the most timely conversations from that morning’s edition of ESPN’s marquee debate show First Take.
The most compelling debates by Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman will be utilized to set the table to expand on the top stories of the day with additional opinions, conversation and dissection. Smith will regularly join Fitz on the show to provide his unique brand of commentary. A powerful lineup of sport-specific experts, as well as callers, will add their reactions to propel the discussion during the 1-3 p.m. window, which saw a 21 percent increase in November from 2018 on terrestrial radio with men 25-54. The timeslot also saw an increase of five percent across all platforms.
“Sports fans are passionate, they love spirited debate and they know First Take is the must-watch show every morning to learn what Stephen A. and Max think,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor, production. “Weaving the best of First Take into this show will set the table for freewheeling discussion. Jason will be joined daily by a lineup of experts and sports fans who call in to further the debate and deliver their strong opinions.”
Fitz added, “I’m excited to host a show aligned with one of the biggest franchises at ESPN that will let me continue to push the First Take topics forward and keep building my relationship with ESPN Radio listeners that means so much to me.”
First Take,Your Take with Jason Fitz will originate from Bristol and will also be available on SiriusXM Channel 80 and via digital distributors Apple Music, iHeartRadio and TuneIn.
Fitz joined ESPN in 2016 and has quickly become a household name across radio programming and the network’s digital platforms. He now hosts the twice-daily show SportsCenter on Snapchat, ESPN Radio’s First and Last and is a regular contributor on Golic and Wingo. Fitz is also a fixture on ESPN’s social media shows surrounding marquee events and key rankings reveals. Prior to ESPN, Fitz was a member of the chart-topping country music group The Band Perry, serving as the band’s musical director and fiddle player.
The final edition of The Stephen A. Smith Show on ESPN Radio will air Friday, January 17, at 1 p.m. and be simulcast on ESPNEWS.
ESPN Radio/ESPNEWS weekday lineup (Beginning January 20)
| Show | Time (ET) |
| Golic and Wingo
|
6 a.m. – 10 a.m. |
| The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
|
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| First Take, Your Take with Jason Fitz
|
1 p.m – 3 p.m. |
| The Will Cain Show
|
3 p.m – 6 p.m. |
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Media Contacts: Diane Lamb [email protected]; Michael Skarka [email protected]
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