Keith Olbermann and ESPN to Part Ways Once Again

[pwaldo]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...rt-ways-807458

Keith Olbermann is exiting ESPN once again.

The television personality, who rejoined the sports network in August 2013, won't be renewing his deal to anchor his ESPN2 program. The news follows a THR report on July 1, noting that ESPN management floated an ultimately unworkable caveat: that Olbermann cease engaging in commentary.

"Keith is a tremendous talent who has consistently done timely, entertaining and thought-provoking work since returning to ESPN," the network said in a statement. "While the show’s content was distinctive and extremely high quality, we ultimately made a business decision to move in another direction. We wish Keith nothing but the best and trust that his skill and ability will lead him to another promising endeavor.”

Network executives also floated the idea of having Olbermann take his show to the network's headquarters in Bristol or to the Los Angeles facility rather than the ABC News Times Square studio in New York that ESPN leases for Olbermann - a move that would save ESPN $40 million at a time when the sports leader is feeling a financial pinch from its Disney corporate parents. ESPN president John Skipper has been given a mandate to cut $100 million from the network's budget next year and $250 million in 2017.

[37jetson]

ESPN was spending $40 Million a year just for a Soap Box for Keith? Yikes!

[pwaldo]

ESPN was spending $40 Million a year just for a Soap Box for Keith? Yikes!

Yeah there was some talk that they weren't happy with the commentary and wanted him to tone it down but it was stupid for them to be blowing $40 million a year on a low rated mid day show. I think they just said that stuff so it wasn't so obvious that they were cutting him because of finances instead. Because then people would be like who in their right mind green lit that to begin with.

[JFried1029]

He was my Sports Editor for the High School newspaper. I was not a huge fan then or now.