The five-year deal for the “First Take” commentator bucks the trend of pay cuts across cable networks.

ESPN has struck a new five year pact with sportscaster Stephen A. Smith that will pay him $20 million a year to keep hosting 'First Take'

Smith will continue to star on ESPN’s morning show “First Take,” while continuing to host his YouTube show and flirt with politics.

Stephen A. Smith has officially signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with ESPN, solidifying his role as the face of “First Take” while also gaining greater flexibility to expand his presence beyond sports.

Smith, a former newspaper beat reporter who rose to fame by pioneering the art of the sports debate show, has agreed with ESPN on a new five-year, $100 million contract, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to CNBC. The deal was first reported by The Athletic .

ESPN has agreed with Stephen A. Smith on a new contract that will pay the bombastic sports commentator $100 million over five years and allow him to scale back his network appearances so he can focus more time talking about politics,

Stephen A. Smith officially agreed to a five-year contract extension worth over $100 million with ESPN on Thursday. The deal bumps the 57-year-old's annual salary from $12 million to $20 million, and keeps him as the face of First Take while freeing up the rest of his schedule to " talk even more about politics ."

ESPN proved that again on Thursday. According to a report from The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, ESPN and Stephen A. Smith, one of sports media's biggest personalities, have agreed to a new five-year contract that will pay him "at least" $100 million.