Rich Eisen’s August return to the SportsCenter anchor desk, his first in 22 years, offered a measure of viewers’ affection for an earlier television era. With ESPN restoring vintage graphics and music, the broadcast attracted 708,000 viewers—67% above the program’s average for its 11 p.m. Eastern time slot.
That reception reinforced the premise behind This Was SportsCenter: Stories from the Set, Eisen’s video podcast reuniting former colleagues with access to ESPN’s archives. The first season debuted in June on Disney+ and the ESPN app, featuring guests including Dan Patrick, Chris Berman, and Linda Cohn. Six further interviews are planned for a second season in 2027.
Eisen worked at ESPN from 1996 to 2003, forming a popular late-1990s partnership with Stuart Scott, before becoming NFL Network’s first on-air hire. He remains there while also running The Rich Eisen Show, which launched in 2014. In December 2019, as DirecTV’s Audience Network prepared to shut down, he accepted the opportunity to take ownership of the program.
After finding subsequent homes on Peacock and Roku, the business expanded, hiring a chief financial officer and additional staff and directing revenue toward its own control room. A 2025 licensing agreement brought the show to Disney+, ESPN’s streaming platforms, and ESPN Radio. Eisen said viewing and listening had increased sharply following the move.
His production company also produces Women’s Sports Now, the weekly program created by his wife, Suzy Shuster. Launched on Roku in 2025, it moved to ESPN in spring 2026. Their daughter Taylor, a basketball player, provided part of its inspiration.
