On Monday, Jan. 29 ahead of Super Bowl LII, ESPN will debut its first episodic digital show that will be streamed three times per week exclusively on Facebook Watch. First Take: Your Take will tailor ESPN’s popular First Take television program to Facebook’s new social video platform with content that incorporates viewer interaction and engagement.
The show’s exclusive content will begin on Mondays with traditional studio segments, as host Molly Qerim and featured commentators Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman debate the hottest topics in sports. Viewers will then be able to share their own takes by uploading their videos on Facebook, some of which will then be packaged into the show’s episodes on Wednesdays. The week will culminate on Fridays with episodes featuring one lucky fan debating directly with a First Take commentator.
“I’m excited about this new venture,” said Smith. “Despite First Take’s success, this is yet another forward step in our venture to increase our audience, reminding all of them that ‘There Is No Success For Us Without You.’ Our latest attempt to build via social media should serve as an emphatic piece of evidence that the entire First Take family fully recognizes complacency is our ultimate enemy. We won’t allow it. So, yet again, here we come!”
“I am really excited for all of the talented people here at First Take to work on this with Ricky Van Veen’s extraordinary team at Facebook Watch,” added Kellerman.
“We’ve created something truly unique and innovative with First Take: Your Take,” said Ryan Spoon, SVP of Social Content, ESPN. “This engaging video experience is the first of its kind that takes the best of ESPN and marries it with the best of what the Facebook Watch platform has to offer. By doing this, we are not only speaking directly to fans but also bringing them into the conversation as active participants.”
“First Take: Your Take is ideally suited for Facebook Watch,” said Dan Reed, Facebook Head of Global Sports Partnerships. “With its highly interactive and social elements, the show has great potential to spark conversation and bring people together. We’re excited to partner with ESPN to create such an active viewing experience for fans and look forward to seeing the Facebook community get the chance to debate the First Take crew.”
First Take: Your Take is available on Facebook Watch, a video platform where episodic content, community and conversation come together. Fans can add it to their Watchlists by following the First Take: Your Take show Page. Facebook Watch is available for free on mobile apps across Apple and Android, on desktop, laptop and on TV apps here: https://videoapp.fb.com/.