ESPN has had some trouble carving out a role for Katie Nolan since signing her to a multiyear contract back in 2017, and the network is planning to try something new in the near future.
Nolan’s weekly show, “Always Late with Katie Nolan,” is being moved from the ESPN+ streaming service to a late night spot on ESPN2. Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports that the show has not generated much viewership in its first year, despite making a couple of viral videos and receiving a Sports Emmy nomination. ESPN+ has a strong subscription base with more than 2.4 million users, but Marchand notes that many of those subscribers use it as a platform for games rather than shows like Nolan’s.
ESPN still believes Nolan’s personality can work with the network, and her program will now air at 12:30 a.m. on Thursdays beginning Sept. 26. Nolan is expected to increase her presence on Facebook as part of the move in addition to continuing with her “Sports? With Katie Nolan” podcast.
Nolan’s contract reportedly pays her around $1.3 million per year, which is significant when you consider that she was hired right around the time ESPN made some shocking layoffs. You can understand why the network wants to find a spot for her that works.
