Keith Olbermann parting ways with ESPN — again

Keith Olbermann.
(Image credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

The famously combative and mercurial Keith Olbermann is leaving ESPN again, nearly two years after he rejoined the sports network.

Olbermann, who first departed ESPN in 1997, and also had a messy breakup with MSNBC several years ago, will not be renewing his deal to anchor the ESPN2 program Olbermann, and his contract expires this month. A source told The Hollywood Reporter the decision was due to "creative differences." The Reporter previously said that ESPN wanted Olbermann to stop engaging in commentary, a condition he wouldn't accept. Network executives were also considering having him tape either in ESPN's Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters or a studio in Los Angeles rather than spending money on his Times Square set, a move that would save $40 million.

In a statement, the network said, "Keith is a tremendous talent who has consistently done timely, entertaining, and thought-provoking work since returning to ESPN. While the show's content was distinctive and extremely high quality, we ultimately made a business 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."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.