NEW YORK (AP) – Sports talk show host Jim Rome is leaving ESPN for CBS’s networks.

He will host a half-hour weekday show on cable channel CBS Sports Network called “Rome” starting in April. CBS said Wednesday that he would also have a sports and entertainment series on Showtime beginning late this year. Rome will contribute to CBS’s coverage of the NFL, NCAA basketball and U.S. Open tennis.

His combative style may be best known for a confrontation with NFL quarterback Jim Everett in 1994. After Rome repeatedly called him “Chris” – in reference to women’s tennis star Chris Evert – on a live ESPN2 broadcast, Everett flipped over a table and knocked Rome out of his seat.

After hosting “The Last Word with Jim Rome” on Fox Sports Net, Rome returned to ESPN in 2003 with “Rome is Burning.”

Rome will continue to host his nationally syndicated radio show.

“Rome,” which will air at 6 p.m. ET, will premiere April 3 after he takes part in CBS’s Final Four coverage.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)