Amid the controversy over Peacock’s exclusive streaming of an NFL wild card game, ESPN VETERAN – Stephen A. Smith, has risen as a strong defender of the network.
In an era when live sports streaming is becoming the norm, NBC’s Peacock created history by broadcasting the first-ever streaming-only NFL playoff game.
The wild card clash, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs triumph over the Miami Dolphins, has been the subject of much debate, partly thanks to a jab from radio host, Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo.
During an episode of ‘First Take’, Russo fired a shot at Peacock when he stated,
“The Chiefs did a great job on Saturday night. Nobody saw it on the Peacock, but they did a great job.”
"The Chiefs did a great job on Saturday night, nobody saw it on the Peacock." Mad Dog pic.twitter.com/bMZcYcirJe
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 17, 2024
Stephen A. Smith, calling in remotely from Los Angeles, didn’t let Russo’s comment pass. In his characteristic manner, Smith countered by saying, “Woah, woah. Hold on.
That is false. Over 30 million people watched it. Over 30 million. That is false.”
“We are not doing this on First Take. We have to give Roger Goodell and the NFL credit for what they did. “Most watched. I’m sorry but you’re wrong Doggy.”
His comments shed light on the latest findings. According to a CNN report, the extraordinary Chiefs-Dolphins matchup achieved an unprecedented feat by becoming the most-streamed live event in the entirety of US history.
The Chiefs-Dolphins game wasn’t just breaking records, it was setting entirely new ones. Apparently, this particular gridiron clash was responsible for “the most internet usage ever in the US on a single date.
Despite the strong viewership numbers, the game didn’t escape criticism. Peacock’s exclusive streaming rights meant not everyone was thrilled about the broadcast setup – and that included some Chiefs players.
Star player, Charles Omenihu, deemed the decision ‘insane’ in the lead-up to the game at Arrowhead Stadium.
However, this wasn’t the only controversy during the First Take episode. Earlier in the show, technical issues cropped up when Stephen A. called out co-analyst Marcus Spears for calling in remotely.
