Numbers don’t lie, actually, and right now, they’re not in favour of Dave Portnoy. The Barstool Sports owner, Dave Portnoy, joined Fox Sports before the college football season started with immense confidence, but his new morning show, Wake Up Barstool, has already struggled from the start.
The program launched last week with plenty of hype and a daily slot from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. Yet the ratings reveal a harsh reality. According to TV Media Blog Substack, the show barely cracked 20,000 viewers on linear television. Midweek episodes sank even lower, pulling only 13,000 viewers on Wednesday and Thursday. For comparison, Colin Cowherd’s The Herd and FS1’s First Things First comfortably pulled six figures each day.
So, while Portnoy’s arrival at Fox created enough news, his early morning experiment looks like it’s fighting an uphill battle.
Portnoy’s Digital Audience Is The Lifeline
Awful Announcing pointed out that Portnoy’s digital audience is keeping him relevant. The first episode landed 88,000 views on YouTube, and the first four averaged over 56,000. That’s not bad, but it still leaves a gulf between his online reach and Fox’s traditional TV numbers.
This contrast makes sense. Barstool built its empire online. Portnoy’s following lives on YouTube, social platforms, and podcasts. Convincing them to tune in on cable at 8 a.m. may prove much harder.
Portnoy’s great debut on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff in Columbus last month showed why Fox brought him in. The Michigan alum made an unexpected onstage entry, taunted Ohio State fans with the Wolverines’ fight song, and called their jerseys “toilet paper.” He even pulled off his sweatshirt to reveal a “Still Can’t Beat Michigan” shirt. That clip spread fast and kept his name in the discussion.
But ratings aren’t built on one viral stunt. Portnoy even announced he wouldn’t appear on Big Noon Kickoff this past weekend, despite insisting he’s thrilled with the Fox deal. The timing feels awkward, especially after a Front Office Sports report claimed Ohio State tried to keep him out of the Horseshoe.
Portnoy thrives on controversy and thrives online. But Fox wants views on TV. Right now, Wake Up Barstool isn’t delivering it. For someone who loves to mock failure in others, Portnoy suddenly finds himself in that.
