Boston Celtics legend and 2021 NBA Hall of Fame inductee Paul Pierce will reportedly join Skip Bayless in a regular role on Fox Sports 1’s flagship program, “Undisputed”.
This will be Pierce’s first regular role on national television since his infamous firing from ESPN back in 2021.
NBA Hall of Famer to Join Skip Bayless on Fox Sports 1’s “Undisputed”
Paul Pierce is reportedly teaming up with Skip Bayless on Undisputed, per @nypost
(Via https://t.co/T3akC2OxKk) pic.twitter.com/yTngDzjhDi
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 12, 2024
Fox Sport 1’s “Undisputed”
Ever since Shannon Sharpe left to join rival show “First Take” on ESPN, the ratings for “Undisputed” have plunged. Sharpe’s abrasive dynamic with Bayless was the key to the show’s success. The pair were able to produce a plethora of viral social media clips, which led to higher ratings.
Fox Sports has struggled to find a capable replacement for the outgoing Sharpe, and will now aim to do so with controversial addition of Pierce.
Bayless’ prominence in sports media comes from his long-tenured run as the opposing voice to Stephen A. Smith on “First Take”.
Bayless was a prized acquisition for Fox Sports after luring him away from ESPN in 2016. The 72 year-old signed a four-year, 32$ million contract extension with Fox Sports in 2021.
Paul Pierce’s Media Career
Pierce first forays into the media world began in 2016, when he appeared as a guest analyst for ESPN during the NBA Finals.
Following his retirement from the NBA, Pierce joined ESPN’s “The Jump” and “NBA Countdown” as a regular contributor in August of 2017.
The 10-time All-Star would continue in this role until his infamous Instagram live video in April of 2021. In the clip, Pierce is prominently shown enjoying himself at a party, with plenty of NSFW activities taking part in the background. ESPN made the decision to fire Pierce just three days after the video was posted.
Pierce currently co-hosts the “Ticket and the Truth” podcast alongside fellow NBA legend and former Celtics teammate, Kevin Garnett.
Fox Sports 1’s Other Shows Take Center Stage
Fox Sports has been able to mitigate Undisputed’s declining ratings by showcasing its other shows. Earlier this January, Fox Sports announced that “The Herd”, “First Things First”, and “Speak” had all set viewership records in 2023.
“The Herd”, hosted by longtime sports media personality Colin Cowherd, recorded its most-watched year ever in 2023.
Nick Wright’s “First Things First” also enjoyed massive success. 49 of the show’s 50 most-watched telecasts ever came in 2023.
“Speak”, which features Joy Taylor alongside former NFL players Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy, finished the year in strong fashion. December of 2023 was the show’s most-watched December ever, and the second most-watched month since it’s debut in 2016.
🚀🚀🚀@FS1‘s afternoon lineup featuring @TheHerd, @FTFonFS1 & @SpeakOnFS1 caps 2023 with record-setting viewership across the board 📈 pic.twitter.com/auiSAPbNZC
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) January 4, 2024
However, there was no mention of “Undisputed” in the press release. Jeff Kotuby of Barret Sports Media noted that Fox Sports has been hesitant to promote “Undisputed” ratings for some time.
“Back in January 2022, FOX Sports reported that Undisputed was the most-watched FS1 program of all time, which it then surpassed in November 2022. The only three posts on @FOXSportsPR about Undisputed since November 2022 were a goodbye message to longtime co-host Shannon Sharpe, news of its return at the end of August 2023, and news that it would report live from the University of Colorado’s campus at the end of September.”
