When Rich Eisen returned to present SportsCenter in August after a 22-year absence, ESPN brought back its old graphics and music. The broadcast attracted 708,000 viewers, which was 67% above the programme’s average audience in the 11 p.m. Eastern Time slot.
Eisen worked at ESPN between 1996 and 2003 before joining NFL Network, where he continues to work. In 2014, he launched The Rich Eisen Show, a daily three-hour programme covering sport and popular culture. However, in December 2019, he learnt that its broadcaster, DirecTV’s Audience Network, was closing. He took ownership of the show himself.
The programme subsequently found homes on Peacock and Roku. A 2025 licensing agreement, allowing ESPN to carry the show, brought it to Disney+, ESPN’s streaming services and ESPN Radio. Eisen says its audience has grown sharply since the move. His team also shares interviews and shorter clips on social media.
His return also includes This Was SportsCenter: Stories from the Set, a video podcast featuring former colleagues and material from ESPN’s video archive. Its first series launched in June on Disney+ and the ESPN app, with guests including Dan Patrick and Chris Berman. A second series containing six new interviews is planned for 2027.
