First Take in major broadcasting change as show is bumped from main ESPN channel and Stephen A. Smith is abruptly absent

FIRST Take has moved channels once again as ESPN makes sweeping changes from its usual schedule.

The sports debate show fronted by Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith will broadcast from a new home for the next two days.

Smith was absent from Thursday's show just days after returning from a summer vacation.

The 56-year-old indicated earlier this week that his comeback would only be temporary.

"I decided, let me take a break, from my break, to come in and break people's emotions and feelings," he told First Take viewers on Monday.

"It's only gonna be a few days, then I'm disappearing again."

ESPN's flagship morning program goes out every weekday from 10 am Eastern.

The two-hour show remains in its usual timeslot following a broadcast change on Thursday and Friday.

But it will instead air on ESPN's sister channel ESPN 2 across both days.

The move is due to the network's live coverage of the Little League Softball tournament from Greenville, North Carolina.

Championship and semi-final games from all seven regions will be shown live and in full from the tournament.

Smith's absence and yet another channel change continue a trend seen across the last month on the ESPN show.

Host Molly has also enjoyed a lengthy vacation, with stand-in hosts Shae Cornette and Christine Williamson stepping up in her absence.

While the Wimbledon tennis championships meant First Take was relegated to ESPN 2 for a full fortnight.

Smith's sparring partner Shannon Sharpe has not appeared on the show since July 2.

Sharpe recently agreed a new deal with ESPN less than a year after switching to the network from Fox.

First Take viewing figures

First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.

The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.

Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.

The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.

First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.

The NFL Hall of Famer has been praised for his "elite chemistry" with Stephen A.

And Molly credited him with "skyrocketing the ratings" during a recent show.

"I want to say huge congrats," Qerim told a beaming Sharpe.

"You have been such an incredible addition to the show.

"You skyrocketed the ratings, but you've been a great teammate.

"We're so, so grateful to have you.

"Huge congrats on your new long-term extension with ESPN."