After decades of success in the sports media industry, former ESPN broadcaster Rachel Nichols found herself without a job a while back after falling victim to a scandal that derailed her career.
Nichols, 48, was a prominent face on the network and a featured voice in all things NBA. Now, she’ll be joining Showtime in her first new venture since leaving ESPN.
Rachel Nicholas Announces Her Move To Showtime In Shocking Reveal
In a statement on Twitter, she announced her latest move.
SHOWTIME Sports announces veteran journalist, host and NBA analyst Rachel Nichols is joining SHOWTIME Basketball, the fast-rising content vertical that features edgy, authentic and compelling content from every corner of the sport. As both a host and producer, Nichols will contribute to multiple programs and projects from SHOWTIME Basketball across multiple platforms. The announcement comes as SHOWTIME Basketball’s successful video podcast ALL THE SMOKE WITH MATT BARNES AND STEPHEN JACKSON drops a new, revealing interview, her first sit-down since her 2021 departure from ESPN, where Nichols opens up about her journey in sports media and what has led to this next chapter in her expansive 25-year career.
Credited as one of the architects of today’s NBA studio television landscape, Nichols will contribute to SHOWTIME Basketball’s premium, award-winning storytelling as she bolsters a group that features Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, JR Smith and King of NBA Twitter Josiah Johnson.
We are delighted to welcome Rachel Nichols to the SHOWTIME Basketball family,” said Brian Dailey, Senior Vice President, Sports Programming & Content, Showtime Networks Inc. “Rachel brings unmatched journalistic credibility, great familiarity with our roster and a work ethic that will take us to another level.”
“I’ve been so fortunate to live my dream job alongside some of the best journalists in the business for more than 25 years, and this new development deal with SHOWTIME Sports gives me my most broad playing field yet,” said Nichols. “They’ve asked me to produce, create and host new sports programming across platforms, working alongside Hall of Famers, multiple guys with championship rings and an uber-creative team behind the camera. We’re going to have so much fun.”
Thrilled to be partnering with @Showtime and getting back to celebrating what we love most about sports.
We're gonna have so. much. fun. pic.twitter.com/4NDmLhF4Dl
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) September 30, 2022
In a way, this is like a second chance for Nichols. After climbing her way to the top at ESPN, she was at the height of success in the business before this scandal rocked her progress and made her start over. Now, she has the chance to do her thing again in a brand new environment.
At Showtime, it’s likely that Rachel will do much of the things she did at ESPN — but maybe she’ll have more of the freedom to do some more creative and personal work.
Either way, let’s hope that Showtime is a place she will feel adequately rewarded and appreciated for all that she brings to the table as a journalist.
