Skip Bayless’s tenure at Fox Sports is set to conclude later this summer. The veteran co-host of FS1’s “Undisputed” and the network have mutually decided to part ways, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This development was initially reported by Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post.
Bayless joined Fox Sports in 2016 with great fanfare after spending 12 years at ESPN, where he played a significant role on “First Take” alongside Stephen A. Smith. Despite ESPN’s efforts to keep him, Bayless chose to move to Fox Sports, which offered him a substantially more lucrative deal.
Fox Sports executives committed to creating a debate show centered around Bayless’s persona, leading to the launch of “Undisputed.” The show found its audience with Bayless and his co-host Shannon Sharpe and enjoyed popularity on social media platforms. However, it struggled to achieve similar success on traditional TV, particularly after Sharpe left for ESPN in 2023. Sharpe recently signed a multi-year agreement with ESPN to continue being a key figure on “First Take” with Smith.
Concerning viewership, Jon Lewis, editor of Sports Media Watch, reported that a late February episode of “Undisputed” attracted just 50,000 viewers, falling short compared to a first-round Dubai Open tennis match between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Shevchenko, which drew 54,000 viewers on Tennis Channel.
Fox Sports has declined to comment on the matter.
Sources indicated there is a possibility that the “Undisputed” brand might be retired, with a new program potentially taking its place, though discussions are still ongoing.