ESPN's Stephen A. Smith: Bring On Sports Network Competition

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Veteran ESPN sports commentator Stephen A. Smith says he’s not concerned about the rise of new cable sports networks looking to compete with cable sports network leader ESPN.

“When I look at Fox (Sports 1), Comcast (which owns NBCSN) and all of these different networks, I love it,” Smith said during a recent video interview with Multichannel News.

Smith added: “I love the fact that there are people who want to come and try to knock us off our pedestal … I like those challenges.”

As far as his future, Smith says he wouldn’t mind taking a stab at political reporting or hosting a political show, but his goal now is to continue to build his voice in sports media.

“I want to establish myself as the pre-eminent voice in the world of sports,” he said. “I’m just getting started.”  

Click here to see the video interview, or here to see the first half of the Smith interview.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.