“The Rich Eisen Show” will be the new centerpiece of ESPN Radio, with its program airing nationally from noon-3 p.m. ET beginning Sept. 2, sources briefed on the move told The Athletic.
In May, The Athletic reported that a strong possibility existed for Eisen’s program to be a staple of ESPN Radio. It will also appear on Disney+ and ESPN+, as well as ESPN’s full direct-to-consumer app that is set to debut in the fall.
The show that is currently in the noon slot, ‘Joe & Q,’ featuring Joe Fortenbaugh and Qiant ‘Q’ Myers, will be disbanded. Fortenbaugh, a sports betting guru, will focus on his TV and radio spots, while Myers will be a Monday-Friday late-night host on ESPN Radio “GameTime.”
The rest of the lead-in lineup, including its morning drive show, “Unsportsmanlike,” hosted by Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon, and the 10 a.m.-to-noon show “Clinton & Friends,” centered on Clinton Yates, will remain the same.
The Rich Eisen Show” will be on at the same time as “The Pat McAfee Show.” Like McAfee, Eisen will be on YouTube. McAfee is not on radio, but is on ESPN, Disney+, ESPN+, the forthcoming ESPN DTC, as well as YouTube. Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith is beginning a new SiriusXM program that will compete directly with Eisen. Smith remains the star of “First Take.”
The Rich Eisen Podcast Network will also be on ESPN’s platforms and will include a new, yet-to-be-named podcast that will have Eisen, a former SportsCenter host from 1996-2003, interviewing colleagues from his run behind the desk.
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