Is FS1's 'Undisputed' heading toward cancellation?

Per Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, "Undisputed" averaged 48K viewers on March 28, the show's lowest audience since it returned from a hiatus last year.

Remember that this isn't a slow period for the sports world. The NCAA Tournament and NBA playoff race are in full swing. NFL Draft speculation is also heating up.

The show has struggled since Bayless' former co-host Shannon Sharpe left and joined ESPN's "First Take." It added panelists, such as Richard Sherman, Michael Irvin and Keyshawn Johnson, but each failed to establish themselves as a clear replacement for Sharpe.

This was apparent during the 2023 NFL season. According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, "First Take" averaged 554K viewers from September to November, while "Undisputed" averaged 120K.  

Bayless signed a four-year, $32M deal with Fox Sports in 2021. The network probably expected more from the sports commentator, and it wouldn't be surprising if it made changes.

"Sports networks don't typically make significant changes until the dog days of the late summer, but it is hard to see 'Undisputed' surviving the year in its current form," wrote Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen. "Particularly with Bayless in the home stretch of his Fox contract and the rest of the FS1 lineup giving executives numerous solid options to pull from to rejigger the morning show, it hardly makes sense to keep giving 'Undisputed' a lifeline."

Clearly, the show is on its last legs. If FS1 pulls the plug, it's fair to wonder whether Bayless will remain with the network.