ESPN Radio will debut an enhanced weekday lineup on Monday, Sept. 28, with current show The Right Time with Bomani Jones moving to 4 – 7 p.m. ET and new program Jalen & Jacoby launching in the 7 – 9 p.m. slot.
The Right Time with Bomani Jones, which previously aired 9-11 p.m., debuted in March 2015 and showcases Jones’ provocative opinions, relevant guests and listener interaction while discussing topical issues. The show is broadcast from Miami.
Jalen & Jacoby, hosted by ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose and Grantland writer, podcaster and senior producer David Jacoby, will launch as a national ESPN Radio show after premiering in 2011 as a Grantland podcast and will broadcast out of the Grantland studio in Los Angeles. The show highlights the chemistry between Rose and Jacoby as they break down the latest news in sports and pop culture with humor, intelligence and perspective that only a former NBA star and long-time ESPN producer can provide.
“Bomani, Jalen and David are all rising stars in the audio space,” said Mo Davenport, senior vice president, ESPN Audio. “They appeal to a young demographic and their followings in the digital space are phenomenal. Adding them to our already impressive stable of ESPN Radio hosts gives us a powerful and diverse weekday lineup.”
Jones has contributed to ESPN as a writer and commentator for close to a decade. He became a fulltime co-host of Highly Questionable, televised on ESPN weekdays at 4:30 p.m., in May 2013, and had previously appeared regularly on ESPN Radio’s The Dan Le Batard Show. Jones will continue to co-host Highly Questionable.
“Moving to an earlier time slot is certainly a show of confidence from ESPN that I appreciate,” said Jones. “I look forward to sharing what we do at night with a larger audience. I’m also looking forward to getting off work at 7 rather than 11!”
Rose, a former NBA star who joined ESPN in 2007, is a regular contributor to the network’s NBA coverage and is a studio analyst on the Kia NBA Countdown show. He will continue in his role on Countdown. Jacoby joined ESPN in 1999 as an intern, then went on to create and produce several ESPN shows, including SportsNation, and has been responsible for developing and producing all of Grantland’s audio and video content since the launch of the site in 2011.
“We truly appreciate the opportunity to GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT five days a week on our new ESPN radio show,” said Rose. “After winning the Academy of Podcasters Awards in July for best sports podcast this year, our fans can expect a radio show like no other.”
Added Jacoby: “Jalen and I are flattered by this opportunity and we will continue to do what has made our podcast successful, being utterly unfiltered and unprofessional. I can promise we will have fun and I can promise that we will do everything in our power to entertain and educate our audience. I can’t promise that Jalen won’t sing. The guy really likes to sing.”
All programs will be available nationally on ESPN Radio, espnradio.com, the ESPN app, SiriusXM, Apple iTunes, Slacker Radio and TuneIn.