CNN Press Release - Turner Sports and CNN to Produce Kickoff Special Live from New Orleans, Host City of Super Bowl XLVII on Saturday, Feb. 2;

Daily Bleacher Report Sports Updates to Debut on CNN and HLN Tuesday, Feb. 5
Turner Sports and CNN will partner to produce Bleacher Report branded sports programming including long-form specials and daily sports updates that will air on CNN and HLN, it was announced today by Lenny Daniels, executive vice president/chief operating officer for Turner Sports, and Ken Jautz, executive vice president, CNN/U.S.

The first of the programming collaborations will be Kickoff in New Orleans: A CNN-Bleacher Report Special, a live one-hour show on CNN to be televised Saturday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. ET. And, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 5, CNN will air Bleacher Report sports updates daily as cut-in segments throughout morning broadcasts on CNN, as well as throughout the day on HLN. With information on the latest topics affecting sports teams and fans, these 3-4 minute segments will combine CNN newsgathering resources with the unique perspective of Bleacher Report to offer a comprehensive overview of sports news and information.
Originating from New Orleans, the Super Bowl XLVII host city, Kickoff in New Orleans: A CNN-Bleacher Report Special, will include a series of features, interviews and profiles that capture the excitement the marquee event brings to the city. The show will be co-hosted by Ernie Johnson, host of TNT’s Sports Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA, and Rachel Nichols, the newly-hired veteran sports reporter for CNN and Turner Sports.

Show elements include:

• Guest appearances by NBC Sports analyst Cris Collinsworth and Fox Sports analyst Howie Long, both contributors to Behind the Mic on Bleacher Report, to preview the game.
• Interview with Archie Manning, former NFL quarterback with the New Orleans Saints and father of two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli.
• Bleacher Report elements including highlights and notable performances from past Super Bowls, game perspective and more presented by Turner Sports host Jared Greenberg.
• A fan’s guide to New Orleans presented by former New Orleans Saints standout Deuce McAllister and SI swimsuit model Demaris Lewis.
• Interview with nine-year-old pee-wee football star and YouTube sensation Sam Gordon, along with a presentation of her video highlights and telestrated analysis of her play.
• Vignettes featuring New Orleans natives such as Troy Andrews (a.k.a. Trombone Shorty), a renowned trombone and trumpet player.

“Leveraging the strength and expertise of CNN and the unique perspective of Bleacher Report allows us to extend the Turner Sports portfolio through coverage of marquee events such as the Super Bowl and the development of consistent sports programming on CNN/US and HLN,” said Daniels. “This strategic integration of Bleacher Report with the leading brands in our portfolio will continue to drive growth and revenue opportunities for our audiences, advertisers and businesses.”

“Bringing together Bleacher Report and Rachel Nichols in a co-production with Turner Sports is a win-win for CNN viewers,” said Jautz. “We could not ask for better partners as we increase sports coverage on CNN.”

About Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report (B/R), a division of Turner Sports, is a leading publisher of original and entertaining sports content and one of the fastest growing sports media Web sites in the U.S. Since launching in 2008, B/R’s Web site has grown to an audience of more than 11 million monthly unique visitors. The company’s distinguished editorial team leads more than 2,000 contributors, and directs Bleacher Report’s unique data-driven approach to creating and programming content. The result is first-rate sports commentary that gives B/R’s audience the stories they want to read in real-time around the teams and topics they are most passionate about. In addition, more than 2.5 million users have installed B/R’s leading Team Stream™ mobile and tablet app, which provide a comprehensive mix of content that engages a broad array of sports fans at the team and topic level.

About Turner Sports
Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and multimedia sports content, airing championship-level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular digital sports brands. Turner Sports’ television lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes Bleacher Report, NCAA.com and March Madness Live, and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App,NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

About CNN Worldwide
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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CNN Press Release - Nichols Will Anchor New Weekend CNN Sports Program and Report for Turner Sports Across Television and Digital Platforms

CNN and Turner Sports have hired veteran ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols, it was announced today by Jeff Zucker, President, CNN Worldwide, and David Levy, President, Sales, Distribution & Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Nichols will serve as a sports reporter for CNN and Turner Sports and will anchor a new weekend sports program on CNN/U.S. beginning later this year. Her CNN program will focus on the most interesting stories and personalities in the world of sports. In her role with Turner Sports, Nichols will handle a wide variety of assignments across the division’s vast sports properties including the NBA and Major League Baseball. Additionally, Nichols will cover all major sporting events, including the Olympics for CNN. Her first assignment will be the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

“We're just thrilled that a sports journalist of Rachel's stature and expertise will now be a regular part of the CNN lineup," said Zucker. "Her arrival, beginning next week, is an important step in expanding the range of programming and storytelling on CNN."

"Rachel is a high profile talent and skilled reporter and we are proud to have her join the Turner Broadcasting family," said Levy. "Rachel's broadcast experience covering a wide variety of assignments including breaking news, major sports events, human interest features and investigative pieces will be a perfect fit across Turner Sports' many properties and platforms."

"I couldn't be more excited to join the CNN and Turner Sports family,” said Nichols. “I believe in Jeff’s vision for CNN, and have always admired the great work of Turner Sports and what David has done there. I’m looking forward to getting started at the Super Bowl."

Prior to joining CNN and Turner Sports, Nichols spent nine years at ESPN, working as a correspondent for SportsCenter, NFL Countdown, NBA Countdown and the network's newsmagazine show, E:60, as well performing sideline duties on a number of Monday Night Football broadcasts. Earlier in her career, Nichols worked as a reporter for the Washington Post and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

A native of Potomac, Maryland, Nichols received a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and multimedia sports content, airing championship-level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular digital sports brands. Turner Sports’ television lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes Bleacher Report, NCAA.com and March Madness Live, and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

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Former CNN sport anchor Jim Huber died Monday after earlier being diagnosed with acute leukemia.

Huber was the first anchor of CNN's World Sport program in 1993 (pictured right) and was later an anchor and reporter for CNN/Sports Illustrated, the 24-hour sports news network from CNN and Sports Illustrated. He also hosted CNN’s Pro Golf Weekly and Sporting Life with Jim Huber. Most recently, Huber was a reporter and essayist for TNT.

David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports at Turner Broadcasting issued a statement earlier tonight on Huber's passing.

"The Turner Broadcasting family suffered a great loss and we are saddened by the passing of our colleague and friend, Jim Huber. A terrific Emmy Award winning journalist and essayist, Jim made so many contributions during his more than 27 years with our company. He was a gentleman and wonderful individual and will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to his wife, Carol, and son, Matt."

Colleagues, both past and present, were quick to offer their tributes on Twitter tonight.

"Terribly sad to hear of Jim Huber's passing. A true gentleman & wordsmith who greatly aided my transition from sportswriter to CNN reporter" - John Giannone

"So Sad to hear of the passing of Jim Huber. A great storyteller and greater person. Worked with Jim for 8 yrs. at #CNN" - Dave Breyer

"Shocked and sad to hear of the passing of ex CNN Sports reporter Jim Huber. One of the great storytellers." - PCNN

"My formative years at @CNN were spent watching Jim Huber work. I am sad I have heard his voice for the last time." - Scott Walker

"Very sad to hear that Jim Huber has passed away. Jim anchored the first ever edition of CNN's World Sport back in 1993." - Don Riddell

"Sad to hear the news of the passing of CNN Sports Jim Huber.. A terrific, Emmy Award-winning journalist and essayist." - Bob Kovach

"Just seeing news about Jim Huber's death. He provided many quality journalistic moments on CNN Sports Tonight. Sad to read about it." - Joe Rutland

CNN's first sports anchor, Nick Charles passed away Saturday after a lengthy battle with Cancer. He was 64 and is survived by his wife, Cory, a Senior Director of Guest Planning for CNN International and four children.

Coverage of this story:

CNN.com's Wayne Drash

The Baltimore Sun (h/t ICN)

TVNewser

CNN Worldwide President Jim Walton sent an E-Mail to staff today regarding Nick:

With great sadness I send this to inform you our friend and former colleague Nick Charles died this morning.

As you may know, Nick had been ill for some time. He was public and extraordinarily generous with the story of his health struggles in recent months, notably in conversations with Sanjay Gupta for his show and a recent profile by Wayne Drash for CNN.com.

As a journalist and sports personality, Nick helped put CNN on the map in its early days. He brought intelligence, style and heart to his work–qualities that translated to our company and inspired those of us who worked alongside him. You’ll see some of that work in remembrances over the coming days.

We will share information on arrangements when we receive it. Our thoughts now are with Cory, Nick’s wife and our CNN colleague, his four children and the Charles family. Their loss is also a loss to CNN, to the sports world and to those of us who were proud and fortunate to call him friend.

CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is hosting a special report Nick Charles: No Regrets, Lessons from the Fight which airs at 7:30 AM ET Sunday morning on CNN.

Legendary Chicago Media Reporter Robert Feder writes in his Time Out Chicago Blog that Morning Express with Robin Meade sports anchor Rafer Weigel has auditioned for a new show designed to replace The Oprah Winfrey Show in the Chicago market.

WLS-TV has been holding auditions of nearly 200 potential candidates, and Feder writes that Rafer Weigel is one of those under consideration. He is not new to the Chicago area, his father, legendary Chicago sports anchor Tim Weigel, anchored sports for WMAQ-TV, WLS-TV and WBBM-TV.

Weigel joined CNN Sports in 2008 after stops in San Diego and San Francisco, California.

We'll watch this story and keep you posted.

Update from HLN Spokesperson: (12:02 PM ET) Rafer is a great part of the HLN team and the Morning Express family and he will be here for a long time.

Update: (1:32 PM ET) Looks like Rafer made a statement to Robert Feder: "I’ve decided not to pursue the WLS job and instead stay at HLN."