Rich Eisen’s return to the SportsCenter presenting desk in August, his first appearance in that role for 22 years, demonstrated the appeal of the programme’s past. Accompanied by vintage graphics and music, the broadcast drew 708,000 viewers—67% above its usual audience in the 11 p.m. Eastern Time slot.
Eisen worked at ESPN from 1996 to 2003, forming a popular presenting partnership with Stuart Scott during the late 1990s. He left to become NFL Network’s first on-air hire and remains with the network. Alongside that work, he launched The Rich Eisen Show in 2014, establishing a daily, three-hour blend of sport and popular culture.
Ownership followed unexpectedly in December 2019, when Eisen learnt that DirecTV’s Audience Network was closing and accepted the opportunity to take over his programme. After moves to Peacock and Roku, a 2025 licensing agreement brought the show to Disney+, ESPN’s streaming platforms and ESPN Radio. Eisen says viewing and listening have grown sharply since then. His team also distributes interviews on YouTube and clips across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Meanwhile, This Was SportsCenter: Stories from the Set turns memories of his earlier career into a video podcast. Featuring reunions with former colleagues and access to ESPN’s archive, its first series debuted in June on Disney+ and the ESPN app. The first series brought together Eisen and Dan Patrick, Chris Berman, Mike Greenberg, Linda Cohn, Chris Fowler and Craig Kilborn. Another series, with six fresh interviews, is planned for 2027.
