After announcing his return to ESPN, The Rich Eisen Show will take over ESPN Radio’s national noon-to-3 p.m. ET time slot beginning Tuesday September 2. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic was first to report Eisen will be taking over the timeslot currently occupied by Joe & Q hosted by Joe Fortenbaugh and Qiant “Q” Myers.
Eisen’s radio program, which is currently distributed by Westwood One and also airing on SiriusXM, will stream live on Disney+ and ESPN+ beginning this fall as ESPN announced the launch of its first direct-to-consumer offering in May called ESPN. According to sources, Barrett Media is reporting that The Rich Eisen Show will continue to be distributed through Westwood One through the end of 2025 while the program airs on ESPN Radio.
“Once we struck a deal with Disney for the video version of The Rich Eisen Show, it made complete sense to migrate the audio version to ESPN Radio, where I got started in the terrestrial radio world almost 30 years ago,” said Eisen via a statement. “It’s just another way to return to my roots with my old and now new friends at ESPN and Good Karma Brands. I couldn’t be more excited about our future together on multiple platforms.”
With the addition of Eisen, Fortenbaugh will shift his focus to television appearances and sports betting content, while Myers will remain with ESPN Radio in a new role as the weeknight host of GameTime, airing during the network’s late-night window.
The addition of Eisen brings a well-known and respected name who served at ESPN previously before making the move to be the first on-air talent at the NFL Network in 2003. Eisen discussed the return to ESPN back in May.
“Rich Eisen is one of the most respected and recognizable voices in sports media. His ability to seamlessly blend insight, humor, and star power has built a loyal following across platforms,” said David Roberts, ESPN Executive Vice President, Executive Editor, Sports News and Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to welcome Rich back to ESPN Radio and to expand his show’s reach across our audio lineup and streaming services, including Disney+.”
Eisen’s show, which currently airs on a variety of platforms including YouTube and The Roku Channel, will not only be broadcast on ESPN Radio but will also be featured across Disney+, ESPN+, and the company’s much-anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service launching this fall. The multimedia strategy underscores ESPN’s commitment to investing in content that travels well across digital and linear formats.
“To say this has been a long time coming is an understatement, especially considering I never thought a reunion with ESPN would happen in any role, let alone such a crucial one of ‘partner.’ Immense thanks to Jimmy Pitaro, Burke Magnus and Dave Roberts for their belief in The Rich Eisen Show and our amazing crew, without whom none of this could have been possible,” Eisen said in a statement.
The rest of ESPN Radio’s daytime lineup remains unchanged according to Marchand. Unsportsmanlike—hosted by Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon—anchoring morning drive, followed by Clinton & Friends from 10 a.m. to noon, led by Clinton Yates will remain in place.
Good Karma Brands, ESPN’s partner across digital video, audio, and podcasts, will also be involved in the sales component of The Rich Eisen Show on all platforms. “We are excited to welcome The Rich Eisen Show into the Good Karma Brand’s family,” said Sam Pines, senior vice president for Good Karma Brands.
In addition to the daily radio show, ESPN will carry content from The Rich Eisen Podcast Network, which includes an upcoming series featuring interviews between Eisen and some of his former SportsCenter colleagues. Eisen was a SportsCenter anchor from 1996 to 2003 before becoming one of the foundational voices of NFL Network.
The Rich Eisen Show will also continue to hit the road for marquee events, broadcasting live from the Super Bowl, NFL Draft and NFL Combine, delivering on-the-ground coverage and high-profile interviews from the biggest stages in football.
Eisen’s arrival places him in direct competition with The Pat McAfee Show, which airs in a similar midday window on ESPN television and digital outlets. Additionally, Stephen A. Smith is launching a new program on SiriusXM that will also go head-to-head with Eisen’s national radio offering. Smith continues to hold down his high-profile role as the face of First Take on ESPN.
More details on Eisen’s ESPN Radio launch, including potential guest hosts or contributors, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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