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“That’s the sort of thing I think about when I think about this show.” “I want to be in that mix one day,” he says of TV’s current crop of late-night hosts, such as Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. “I have aspirations of doing a late-night show one day,” he acknowledges, noting that Arsenio Hall, who took on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” on NBC with a syndicated counterpart and enjoyed a good run between 19, is someone in whose footsteps he’d like to follow. If some of that sounds like something out of the playbook mastered by David Letterman or Jay Leno, that’s OK, says Smith. The host will respond to fan questions lodged via his social-media accounts, give relationship advice to couples who have let sports come between them, and feature more of “Baby Stephen A.,” a re-working of “First Take” with the announcer seen via a baby filter.

“World” debuts tonight and new episodes will be available every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Smith’s new program will be on frequently. “I want to be part of the streaming world, and I have found that to be far more beneficial to my career than audio per se,” he says. When Smith renewed his deal with ESPN last March, he decided to cede audio work.

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To make room for the ESPN Plus show, something had to give. Smith is on the air each weekday and has taken on new duties related to ESPN’s basketball schedule. “Stephen A’s World” already leads the web page devoted to getting consumers to sign up for ESPN Plus. While Disney Plus may have “The Mandalorian,” ESPN Plus has yet to launch a truly signature program, despite efforts like “Detail,” an in-depth analysis program that was hosted by the late basketball great Kobe Bryant. Disney Plus and Hulu, the company’s two general-entertainment streaming hubs, have bigger bases than ESPN. Its parent company, Walt Disney, has told investors that it will place new emphasis on broadband video going forward, which means the company needs to boost subscriptions to ESPN Plus. Drawing comparisons between ESPN and Fox News might seem odd, but the Fox Corporation-owned news outlet has tried much the same thing with its Fox Nation subscription-video service, where Steve Doocy, a longtime “Fox & Friends” morning host, led a cooking program, and anchor Dana Perino offered a video book club.ĮSPN has reason to make its best-known personalities available to streaming adherents. Like other media outlets, ESPN is using its new broadband service to let fans see a different facet of one of its most-followed personalities. “But when I’m with a guest, it’s about them.” I’ll still be me when I’m with me,” says Smith. “There is going to be a bit more levity to this show, a bit more fun.” Viewers who tune in should expect to see Smith interact with a range of colorful guests in ways to which they may not be accustomed. “You can already see me pontificating or debating, being very demonstrative, bringing some news to the question” on his regular show, says Smith in an interview. You won’t find the show on ESPN, but rather its streaming-video counterpart, ESPN Plus. The popular ESPN host is best known for making the emotional, vibrant views on games, athletes and coaches that draw audiences each weekday to the Walt Disney sports-media giant’s “First Take.” Starting this week, he hopes to show ESPN aficionados another side, by bringing original segments and even celebrity guests to his new program, “Stephen A’s World.” Smith sees a chance to move to cool conversation after years of playing up hot talk.