There's a possible talent shakeup looming at Fox Sports' FS1, sources tell Sporting News. Colin Cowherd has been telling Fox executives and colleagues he expects to step down as co-host of "Speak for Yourself" with Jason Whitlock sometime this year.
Cowherd's weekday late afternoon show (5-6 p.m. ET) with Whitlock premiered in June 2016. If he leaves it, the 54-year old Cowherd is expected to focus on his long-running TV/radio simulcast, "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" (noon to 3 p.m. ET), and "Fox NFL Kickoff," his NFL pregame show with Charissa Thompson that has been making headway against ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown."
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As Cowherd possibly heads for the exits on "Speak for Yourself," FS1 is looking to expand the show from one to two hours, said sources. FS1 has been airing Champions League matches on many weekday afternoons between the 3 p.m. close of "The Herd" and "SFY"'s 5 p.m. start time. But those soccer rights expire this year. FS1 is looking to expand a revamped "Speak for Yourself" from one to two hours (3-5 p.m. ET).
"The worst-kept secret at FS1 is they're going going to expand ['SFY'], Whitlock’s still on it and Colin's coming off," said one source.
Fox declined to comment.
Cowherd's departure from "Speak for Yourself" could spark the biggest series of talent changes at Los Angeles-based FS1 since programming czar Jamie Horowitz was suddenly ousted in July 2017.
Cowherd has made no secret of his admiration for Horowitz, who turned him and Michelle Beadle into bankable TV stars at ESPN's "SportsNation." The question now is whether FS1 boss Charlie Dixon elevates another co-host to succeed Cowherd alongside Whitlock, or makes Whitlock the sole star/host.
Doug Gottlieb has shown he has the smarts, opinions and humor to go toe to toe with Whitlock, but Gottlieb already has his own daily radio show on Fox Sports Radio from 3-6 p.m. Whitlock is also said to like Ray Lewis, the Ravens legend who has rebounded as an analyst at FS1 after flopping at ESPN.
LeBron James relegates his teammates while other stars elevate them according to @WhitlockJason pic.twitter.com/IiiL1JGBsz
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) April 19, 2018
The transition could be gradual, with Cowherd delivering talking points at the top of the hour, then gradually getting less air time, or Whitlock could drive the show solo, delivering a televised mini-column at the top of the hour, then opening the discussion to a rotating collection of Fox talent.
During its history, "SFY" has featured a wide variety of guests from the Fox Sports world, including Gottlieb and Lewis; NBA experts Chris Broussard and Jim Jackson; former NFL stars Tony Gonzalez, Trent Dilfer, Eric Dickerson and Seth Joyner; college football analyst Joel Klatt; and Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead.
Look for Whitlock to try to do more news-making interviews with celebrity guests on "SFY," too, said sources. "SFY" has gotten more media attention for its interviews than its debates. Michael Vick sparked a media firestorm when he told Whitlock that Colin Kaepernick should get a "haircut" if he wants to return to the NFL. Terry Bradshaw made headlines by saying Mike Tomlin of the Steelers is not a great coach — "at all."
Meanwhile, Kristine Leahy is leaving "The Herd" to headline her own show on FS1 this fall.
There's talk at Fox about promoting rising star Joy Taylor from her host/referee role between Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe on "Undisputed" (9:30 a.m. to noon ET) to Leahy's spot on "The Herd," say sources, but Bayless might have to sign off on Taylor leaving "Undisputed" for "The Herd."
If Taylor switches shows, Holly Sonders could be in line for the "Undisputed" host job, said sources.
Sonders, the former Golf Channel reporter, joined Fox in 2014.
