Rachel Nichols Returning To ESPN, Will Anchor Own Program, Contribute Across Platforms

Rachel Nichols is "returning to ESPN to work as an anchor and reporter," according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. She is "expected to anchor her own program" and contribute to other platforms, "including E:60, and work on issue-oriented journalism." She is "expected to start" in early '16. Nichols was a "splashy hire" for CNN President Jeff Zucker in Jan. '13. During Nichols' nearly three years at the company, she covered the NBA and MLB for TNT and TBS, as well as major events like the Olympics and Super Bowl for CNN. Her studio show, "Unguarded," was canceled in Oct. '14 "as part of larger cuts across CNN." She previously worked at ESPN from '04-13. Nichols "left on good terms with the network and also is repped by an agency (CAA) that has a lot of clients at ESPN." The hire of Nichols "is a positive narrative" for ESPN President John Skipper, as she is "well liked and does quality journalism" (SI.com, 11/30).