As part of her return to ESPN on Feb. 1, Rachel Nichols will host a new, daily program focused on the NBA that will debut Thursday, Feb. 18, when NBA games resume following the All-Star break.
The Jump will air on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET Monday-Friday. The fast-paced, half-hour program will originate from ESPN’s Los Angeles studios and will include regular appearances by current and former NBA players, as well as ESPN analysts, reporters and insiders. The show will be produced by ESPN senior coordinating producer Kevin Wildes and coordinating producer Richelle Markazene.
In addition to hosting the new program, Nichols will extensively contribute to SportsCenter with commentary, interviews and features. She will also occasionally host Outside the Lines, and contribute to ESPN’s prime time newsmagazine E:60.
“The Jump is going to be a great big conversation about all the fun, serious, smart, crazy, big-issue, small-smile moments that make the NBA so fascinating,” Nichols said. “I’m thrilled ESPN is giving me the opportunity to help create and host this show, and that I’ll also have a voice on a wide range of sports and topics for SportsCenter, OTL and E:60 – shows I have so much respect and affection for.”
Nichols originally worked at ESPN from 2004 to 2013 as a New York City-based reporter, a role that included major event coverage, breaking news and high-profile interviews. Nichols was most often seen on SportsCenter, NFL Countdown and Outside the Lines, and was also a recurring sideline reporter on Monday Night Football. In 2007, Nichols also became one of the original correspondents to launch E:60.
For the past three years, Nichols has been an anchor/reporter at CNN and Turner Sports, working sidelines on the networks’ NBA and NCAA Tournament broadcasts, as a CNN studio analyst and as the host of Unguarded with Rachel Nichols.
To read more visit ESPN Media Zone where this article was originally published
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
