First Take in major broadcasting change as ESPN show gets new set and TV schedule for Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith

FIRST Take has been involved in a major broadcasting change that has seen a new set and schedule for the ESPN show.

The network’s flagship program is usually on Monday to Friday from 10 am ET on their main channel.

ESPN/ First Take

ESPN / First Take

It is hosted by the excellent Molly Qerim alongside the charismatic and outspoken analyst Stephen A. Smith .

They have regular guests including NFL legend Shannon Sharpe and the ranting tones of Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo.

But there has been a change to the schedule during the college football season, with three huge events.

The team will no longer always be based in ESPN’s studios in New York, instead traveling across the country.

Last Friday, they were at the Howard University in Washington, DC, with a packed house of students and fans watching on.

On October 11, First Take will be at the Tennessee State University in Nashville ahead of the college football action.

Then on November 8, the team will be at Clark Atlanta at Morehouse College, Georgia, for a live recording of the show.

Viewers and fans reacted with delight at the news and revealed their excitement of First Take moving across the country.

One said, “Howard University stand up!”

Another commented, “Amazing! Stephen A. Is the best in the business!”

And one replied, “We will be ready, don’t you worry.”

A fourth added, “Make sure you all get down there for these.”

It is not first time Qerim and Co have been on the road, and have been part of similar college campus events over the years.

Tickets for the shows are available to the public, but only on a first come, first served basis, with a limited number free.

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.

“We are coming and it better be packed. I better not be able to hear my own name”, Stephen A. said on the news.

“First Take is coming in the house, what you’ll going to do? You’ll better be ready, I’m going to be ready.

He added, “Shannon going to be ready, you’ll going to be ready? You better be, you better be. That’s all I got to say.

“I’m just saying, you’ve got cats chirping, acting like they the best university on the planet. That they got the best crowd.

“That they are going to be more hyped than anybody. So First Take has said ‘all right, we coming, what you all going to do?’.

“You better show up. They better show up.”