When Rich Eisen returned to host SportsCenter in August after 22 years away, ESPN brought back its familiar graphics and music. The broadcast attracted 708,000 viewers, which was 67% above the program’s average audience in the 11 p.m. Eastern time slot.
The response supported Eisen’s idea for a video podcast about his former workplace. This Was SportsCenter: Stories from the Set brings him together with former colleagues and gives him access to ESPN’s video collection. Its first season launched in June on Disney+ and the ESPN app. A second season, with six new interviews, is planned for 2027.
Eisen worked at ESPN from 1996 to 2003 before joining NFL Network, where he continues to work. He launched The Rich Eisen Show in 2014 and became its owner in December 2019, when DirecTV’s Audience Network was preparing to close. The business later found homes on Peacock and Roku.
In 2025, an agreement brought the show to Disney+, ESPN’s streaming services, and ESPN Radio. Eisen said its audience had grown sharply since that move. His production company also makes Women’s Sports Now, a weekly program created by his wife, Suzy Shuster. It launched on Roku in 2025 before moving to ESPN in spring 2026.
