The past is a profitable place to be
A TV host reboots his career with a nostalgia-driven podcast.
The story
Rich Eisen is returning to ESPN, leveraging '90s nostalgia with a podcast that reunites past colleagues and uses ESPN's archives.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
Rich Eisen is reuniting with old SportsCenter colleagues for a podcast that’s basically a career scrapbook, complete with access to ESPN’s video archive. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s a business model built on the idea that people miss the past so much they’ll pay to relive it.
His show, which he now owns, has expanded across multiple platforms, proving that even a 90s-era anchor can thrive in a world that claims to prefer new content. He’s still using the same kind of energy that made him a star in the first place, but now he’s the one calling the shots.
It’s not just a trip down memory lane—it’s a calculated move, and it’s working. The past isn’t just selling; it’s dominating.
