Rich Eisen is set to host “The Rich Eisen Show” on ESPN via the Roku channel, marking his return almost 20 years after departing from the network in 2003, as reported on Monday by Athletic.
Scheduled from noon to 3 PM, the show will be available on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform starting this fall.
The agreement between Eisen, 55, and ESPN reportedly allows him to retain ownership and editorial control of the show. This setup appears to mirror what the network has with Pat McAfee, who has considerable control over “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Considered an essential part of the network, Eisen’s program will also be accessible on ESPN+, along with Disney+’s streaming offerings.
There’s a “strong possibility” that the show might also make its way to ESPN Radio, according to the report.
However, it’s worth noting that Eisen won’t be appearing on ESPN’s linear networks, including ESPN2 and ESPNews.
The details of this arrangement remain unclear at this time.
Last month, Eisen participated in the NFL Draft coverage on ESPN.
Since leaving ESPN in 2003, he has played a significant role at NFL Network, contributing to various programs.
Before making his move to Roku in 2022, his show aired on NBC Sports Network and Peacock.
Even with these changes, Eisen will continue to host NFL Network’s Gameday and draft coverage, and he’ll also call some games during the regular season.
Interestingly, ESPN reportedly sought to bring Colin Cowherd onboard for a consumer-focused initiative launching this fall, but he opted to stay with Fox Sports and his podcast network, Volume.
ESPN has chosen not to comment on the information from Athletic.
