ESPN has lured Katie Nolan from Fox Sports. The network announced Oct. 4 that Nolan will join ESPN beginning Oct. 16 and “will appear across multiple platforms and in a variety of projects,” according to a press release issued by the network.
The release noted that “announcements regarding her specific assignments are forthcoming.”
It’s a high-profile loss for Fox Sports 1, where Nolan has hosted the program Garbage Time, which won a sports Emmy in 2016. She joined Fox Sports in 2013 as a digital correspondent. ESPN was known to be interested in Nolan, even as it pink-slipped about 100 staffers last spring, many of them on-air personalities.
In a statement announcing the deal, Connor Schell, executive vp content at ESPN, said: “Katie is smart, dynamic and brings to ESPN a fresh perspective and a great sense of humor. She is a rare talent and will represent our brand incredibly well as we continue to expand across the digital space.”
Schell, who was promoted earlier this year, is leading a programming realignment at ESPN. In spring 2018, the network will unveil a new morning show headlined by soon-to-be erstwhile Mike & Mike co-host Mike Greenberg. As The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed, Greenberg will be joined by Jalen Rose and Michelle Beadle on the New York-based program. Both Beadle and Rose will continue to host NBA Countdown. But Beadle is expected to exit SportsNation, which originates in Los Angeles.
Nolan will have a “prominent digital presence” on ESPN, the network said. But she will also appear across the linear network’s studio shows and is likely to get her own program.
In a statement, Nolan added: “I could not be more excited to have a prominent digital presence while also making appearances across ESPN studio programming. When I was a little girl, I always dreamed that one day announcements regarding my specific assignments would be forthcoming.”
