Return to ESPN Includes SportsCenter, E:60, Outside the Lines Roles

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.

Nichols has also been a reporter for the Washington Post (1996-2004) and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (1995-96). A native of Potomac, Md., she received a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

“We are so excited to get Rachel back at ESPN in an expanded role,” said Marie Donoghue, ESPN Executive Vice President, Global Strategy and Original Content. “Our mission in content development relies on smart, original voices like Rachel; her credibility, integrity and intelligence shine through in everything she does.”

ESPN Senior Vice President, SportsCenter and News, Rob King also looks forward to Nichols’ return to ESPN’s news and information programs.

“As a respected journalist and interviewer, Rachel always elevated the quality of SportsCenter, E:60, and any other ESPN news platform she touched,” King said. “It’s a thrill to welcome her home.”

New ESPN Weekday Schedule (beginning Feb. 19):

Time (ET) Show Mornings until 1:30 p.m. SportsCenter 1:30 p.m. Outside the Lines 2 p.m. NFL Insiders 2:30 p.m. NFL Live 3:30 p.m. The Jump 4 p.m. SportsNation 4:30 p.m. Highly Questionable 5 p.m. Around the Horn 5:30 p.m. Pardon the Interruption 6 p.m. SportsCenter

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