Former “SportsCenter” anchor Rich Eisen is returning to ESPN.
Eisen, who worked at the World Wide Leader in Sports between 1996 and 2003, is porting his namesake radio show, which currently also airs in video form on Roku, in the fall, the Athletic reported Monday. The radio show would move from Westwood One to ESPN, as well. It would likely move to an ESPN SiriusXM channel.
ESPN is also set to launch a standalone, direct-to-consumer streaming service aimed at sports-hungry cordcutters. Video of Eisen’s radio show would be available on that platform.
The network will reportedly license Eisen’s show similar to its agreement with “The Pat McAfee Show,” whose host maintains editorial control.
The 55-year-old sportscaster, a five-time Sports Emmy nominee in the Outstanding Studio Host category, was most-known for anchoring the flagship news-and-highlights program with the late Stuart Scott but became the first hire at NFL Network in 2003. ESPN may be in the midst of purchasing the NFL Network from the league to further add to its football coverage.
Until that deal is completed, the radio show will be licensed by ESPN and Eisen will continue in his roles at NFL Network, the Athletic reported.
Analyst Peter Schrager made a similar move between the sports channels last month.
