Barstool Sports' new FS1 morning show Wake Up Barstool is facing a rapid ratings collapse two weeks into its run. The program, announced as part of a Fox Sports 1 partnership, competes in the same morning block as Undisputed had, and now faces ESPN's Get Up and First Take along with Fox's own Breakfast Ball and The Facility.
Launched earlier this month, Wake Up Barstool drew early attention from Barstool fans but posted a concerning start. In Week One, Tuesday through Friday episodes maxed at about 20,000 viewers. In Week Two, the shows from Monday through Friday averaged 12,000, with a Tuesday low of 7,000. After two weeks, the numbers suggest a steep drop from its debut.
Portnoy has said he is not fully satisfied with the on-air product during Monday appearances, though he has noted that Mondays have tended to perform best for the program. The broader ratings picture, however, remains grim for the venture.
Awful Announcing, citing the latest figures, says the Week Two average of 12,000 viewers is nearly 35 times lower than ESPN's First Take average in August, even before NFL or college results pad rundowns. The second-week average also trails Fox's broadcasts of Major League Pickleball by about 3,000 viewers, underscoring the uphill battle for Wake Up Barstool to find an audience.
This setback adds to Portnoy's forays into television. Barstool's prior TV effort, Barstool Van Talk on ESPN, was canceled after two episodes. Fox and Barstool now face questions about format, talent, and strategy as they weigh the show’s future.