Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN Radio show will be replaced by a program that will feature a lot of … Stephen A. Smith, The Post has learned.
Under terms of Smith’s new, nearly $8 million-per-year contract, Smith is giving up hosting his ESPN Radio show that runs from 1 to 3 p.m. In its place, ESPN is going to center its new show around Smith and Max Kellerman’s TV program, “First Take.”
ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson confirmed to The Post that “First Take, Your Take with Jason Fitz” will replace Smith.
Smith will host his final radio show on Jan. 17, then Fitz will take over on Jan. 20.
Fitz, who began with ESPN in 2016, will host the show, but it will feature replays of Smith and Kellerman’s top arguments from their 10 a.m.-noon TV show, as well as Smith as a frequent guest.
It will then have some of the normal talk show elements, such as guests and callers.
“You are not simulcasting the whole thing,” Williamson said in reference to “First Take” on TV. “You are actually enhancing it.”
Fitz’s job, according to Williamson, is to “sort of triangulate” the elements of the show. He will intro Smith’s and Kellerman’s takes on big topics, interact with fans and then have live guests around the segments.
In New York on 98.7 FM, ESPN will go local with a show featuring Bart Scott and Alan Hahn, sources have told The Post. Williamson declined to comment. Scott is soon leaving WFAN, where he has hosted afternoon shows for two years. The rest of the country will receive “First Take, Your Take.”
Entercom, FAN’s parent company, has shifted from offering Scott more and more money to attempt to convince him to change his mind to trying to hold up when he can begin at ESPN Radio, according to sources.
It could potentially delay when Scott starts on the show, though Scott could be released to do TV, specifically “Get Up!,” sooner. Discussions are ongoing.
The idea to transfer “First Take” in an audio format has been percolating in Williamson’s brain for a while.
“I always thought that ‘First Take’ would be a great radio show,” Williamson said. “There was a time there where I just wanted to simulcast it. On the audio network, we just had better stuff. Colin [Cowherd] was in that [10 a.m.] window. Now, Dan [Le Batard] is in that window.”
Smith’s move off radio made the transition to a “First Take” radio edition easier to complete.
The rest of the lineup will remain the same, including Will Cain from 3 to 6 p.m. Cain was thought to be a favorite to replace Smith. Williamson wanted to keep building on Smith’s momentum. His show was up 21 percent nationally last month compared to the same period a year ago.
“Keeping Stephen A. involved with Max in a significant way in that window seemed like the smart call,” Williamson said.
Fan friendly: Nice work by the NFL opening up the 49ers-Saints game to the New York audience. Under the old rules, with the Jets playing, there would not be any game opposing a local team. The NFL instituted that to try to ensure its stadiums were filled.
Now, though, it wants to be more TV-friendly, so 49ers-Saints will be on Fox in the 1 p.m. window against Jets-Dolphins on CBS in New York.
NBA troubles: Not only are the NBA national ratings down, but Sports Business Journal reported the local numbers are off 13 percent. Give the NBA credit, though, as it tries to come up with some new scheduling ideas so there is less of a focus on load management and other issues.
Last day: Mike Francesa will work his final afternoon drive-time show on WFAN on Friday. Francesa is expected to continue with a half-hour daily appearance at 6 p.m. on WFAN next year, as well as contribute to Radio.com, where he said he will talk sports and politics.
FAN doesn’t have in place who will succeed Francesa. Evan Roberts is one choice, while either Joe Benigno or Maggie Gray is expected to be his partner.