Sports media mogul Pat McAfee is stepping away from a $120 million partnership with FanDuel and a new multi-million dollar deal with the world’s leading sports company, ESPN. Immense popularity Show Pat McAfee You move into a new home, the most family-friendly Disney-owned home on earth. So while McAfee says he’ll retain full creative control of the Daily Show fans have come to love, he admits he’ll have to give up one thing: the “f***” expletive.
Pat McAfee wanted out of his $120 million deal
Sports talk show host Pat McAfee entered into a four-year, $120 million partnership with FanDuel just over a year ago (December 2021). However, as the former NFL hitman’s life got busier, McAfee began looking for a new home to show off that would take some of the work responsibilities from him.
In the past few years, in addition to hosting a daily talk show, McAfee has also worked for WWE and as an analyst for ESPN’s GameDay College. Additionally, on May 4, 2023, he becomes a father for the first time as his wife gives birth to a baby girl named Mackenzie.
All of which is why McAfee and “the boys,” in show parlance, are entering #UpToSomethingSZN in 2023.
Andrew Marchand, sports media observer for the New York Post, and other outlets reported that ESPN was the leading network/platform for landing the star, and on Tuesday, that became a reality.
The exact details of the “multi-million dollar block” are not yet known, Marchand reports, “but it’s more than eight figures a year, according to sources.”
In a pre-recorded video for his show and social media, McAfee — who is currently on semi-parental leave — told his viewers that the show has “four important shows from four great platforms/networks.” However, eventually, the show will now be an ESPN property.
As part of the deal, the show will be simulcast on the network’s ESPN+ streaming service, the ESPN YouTube channel, and on ESPN Next I wake up! And take first.
The Pat McAfee Show will move to ESPN with one major change to its programming
In McAfee’s announcement video, the show joked about all the company-style changes the show would make by moving to ESPN before flashing a clip of Maury Povich saying, “That was a lie.”
McAfee then said into the camera, “We’re not changing a thing.” “This was literally the beginning of every conversation with everyone leading up to a season.”
Despite his bold announcement, he admitted that one thing would change with Disney as his company’s new president.
“Out of respect for [ESPN]“We decided we weren’t going to say nearly that much,” McAfee admitted. “But, every other word is fine.”
The host then referenced the Chicago Bulls documentary, The last dancethat aired on the network and how liberally the f*** word was used, which is quite a bit on cable nowadays. However, in the middle of the day, McAfee says he and his crew will try to refrain from using the harsh damn word.
Outside of that, McAfee says he retained “total creative control” over the program, which won’t change much when it moves to ESPN.
ESPN doesn’t like controversy
While Pat McAfee has been incredibly clear that the show will remain on ESPN, it’s understandable that some of his fans are worried about moving to the world’s largest sports network owned by the world’s largest family-friendly brand.
ESPN’s history includes plenty of bad behavior and wild anecdotes, as chronicled in the excellent book These guys have all the fun: inside the world of ESPN By James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales.
However, since Disney purchased ESPN’s then-parent company, ABC, in 1996, the network has been quick to quash any controversy that might have arisen.
The most telling example was when ESPN signed Barstool Sports hosts Dan “Big Cat” Katz and PFT Commentator to do a talk show called Van Tock. Many of the company’s employees revolted against the move due to Barstool’s history of sexism and misogyny. Then-president John Skipper canceled the show after only one episode.
This is just one example of the network being controversial over the years.
ESPN hired and then fired rowdy conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh in 2003 over comments he made. Sunday NFL Countdown About Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
And in 2021, the network canceled hosting Rachel Nichols Leap and pulled her from covering the NBA Finals after a leaked tape was recorded without her knowledge in her hotel room complaining that a black co-star, Mariah Taylor, got a hosting party on her because of the race.
These are just a few of the times ESPN has quickly rescued talent when a hint of controversy popped up.
Hope it is Show Pat McAfee It will reduce the “f***s”, and that will be enough to keep ESPN and Disney happy. However, history shows that may not be the case.
