Rich Eisen To Return to ESPN.

Radio and TV sports anchor Rich Eisen, a host on ESPN and ESPN Radio from 1996 to 2003, will return to the network as part of its new direct-to-consumer service set to launch in the fall, according to a report in The New York Times.

“The Rich Eisen Show,” which has aired from noon-3pm (ET) since 2014 on various radio and TV platforms, will move at least its TV airing to ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+ from its current home on Roku, where it has run since 2022. Prior to that time, the show ran on NBC Sports Network and Peacock. Eisen’s program would not air on any of ESPN’s linear networks, which include ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNews.

The radio counterpart of Eisen’s show aired nationally on Fox Sports Radio before moving to Westwood One’s sports network. In January, the show joined the Infinity Sports Network lineup, replacing Jim Rome, who moved to afternoons on Westwood One.

There is no word yet on whether “The Rich Eisen Show” will also move to ESPN Radio, which currently airs “Joe and Q,” featuring Joe Fortenbaugh and Qiant “Q” Myers, in the noon-3pm slot.

Adding Eisen’s show is part of ESPN’s effort to attract customers to its new service, which will allow them to forgo a cable subscription. The network has met with other high-profile hosts, including Fox Sports’ “The Herd” host Colin Cowherd, who turned down an offer to stay at Fox and run his podcast business, The Volume.

Eisen would join “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN, which currently airs noon-3pm. Like McAfee, Eisen’s show will be licensed by ESPN, meaning he is expected to maintain ownership and editorial control, and will likely have prominent placement on ESPN’s app.

After seven years at ESPN, during which he was one of the hosts of its nightly “SportsCenter” franchise, Eisen moved to NFL Network, where he is a featured host on “GameDay” and its NFL draft coverage and calling several regular-season games — all of which he will continue to do after joining ESPN. With ESPN in advanced talks to acquire NFL Media, Eisen’s role at ESPN, and in the new service’s launch, is likely to sweeten such a deal.