Barstool Sports’ leap from online content to television hasn’t gone as smoothly as fans hoped.
Just weeks after launching their new morning show, Wake Up Barstool, the popular sports media company is already seeing viewership numbers drop to surprisingly low levels.
The show, created by Barstool founder Dave Portnoy, was meant to capture the energy of the website’s loyal “Stoolies” and translate it to FS1’s morning lineup.
But the transition from digital to broadcast television is proving more challenging than expected.
Morning Show Struggles Against Heavy Competition
Wake Up Barstool debuted earlier this month in a time slot previously held by FS1 favorites such as Undisputed and its successors, Breakfast Ball and The Facility.
It also faces stiff competition from ESPN’s morning shows, Get Up and First Take.
While the first week of ratings was concerning, the second week was even more alarming.
Shows from Tuesday to Friday averaged just 12,000 viewers, with Tuesday hitting a low of 7,000 viewers.
Wednesday and Friday fared only slightly better, drawing about 8,000 viewers.
Weekday Numbers Highlight Struggles
Monday appears to be the only bright spot, with 23,000 viewers tuning in during the show’s second week.
Even so, these numbers are a far cry from the ratings ESPN enjoys.
According to Awful Announcing, the average viewership for Wake Up Barstool is nearly 35 times lower than ESPN’s First Take in August, even during a quieter sports month without NFL or college football results boosting ratings.
Despite surviving longer than Barstool’s previous TV attempt, Barstool Van Talk—which was canceled after just two episodes—these low ratings are a clear sign that the show is struggling to find its audience.
Portnoy Admits Concerns
Dave Portnoy himself has expressed dissatisfaction with the show, particularly with his Monday segments.
While there’s optimism that the format could improve, the current numbers paint a stark picture: Wake Up Barstool is on track to become one of FS1’s lowest-rated programs ever, even trailing broadcasts of Major League Pickleball by 3,000 viewers.
For Portnoy and FS1, the challenge is clear: they need to find a way to convert Barstool’s online popularity into sustainable television viewership—before the numbers sink even further.