Olbermann, Fox Are Parting Ways

After less than 2 1/2 years, Keith Olbermann’s stint at Fox and Fox Sports Net is finished.

Network officials announced Tuesday that Olbermann, effective immediately, is leaving his position as host and executive producer of Fox Sports Net’s “Keith Olbermann Evening News.”

Although hired in January 1999 as a main anchor for “Fox Sports News,” his duties last August were reduced to his weekly show.

However, this summer he was to again serve as host of Fox’s baseball coverage--the Saturday game of the week, the All-Star game and postseason games, including the World Series.

Fox called the parting mutual and amicable. Although Olbermann has the reputation of being a difficult employee, there was no indication of any such conflict leading to his departure.

“Don’t expect to see the venom and animosity that came with his other departures,” one source said.

Olbermann has told friends, including Fox announcer Joe Buck, the same thing.

He was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, “All I can say is, ultimately, it’s their network and it’s their money,”

The decision apparently was motivated by business reasons.

His contract, which reportedly paid him $1 million a year until cut significantly with his reduction in duties last year, was not due to expire until later this year.

But during preliminary negotiations, it became apparent Olbermann and Fox were not going to reach terms on a new deal.

Under a new $2.5-billion, six-year agreement with major league baseball that includes all postseason play, the Fox network’s regular-season coverage begins June 2.

To avoid having a lame duck host of the pregame show during the first year of the contract, sources said it was preferable to say goodbye now to Olbermann.

Sources said Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy will become co-hosts of Fox’s baseball coverage. Zelasko will become the first woman to hold such a position on a network level.

Another factor in Olbermann’s departure was declining ratings.

The “Keith Olbermann Evening News” was averaging a 0.30 rating, down slightly from the 0.34 “Fox Sports News” was previously averaging in the same Sunday night time slot.

In a prepared statement, David Hill, Fox Sports chairman, said, “Keith has been a valuable contributor to Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports since he joined us in 1999, and I admire his multifaceted creative talents and the professionalism and leadership he brought to the job. However, both parties agree that, long term, our goals are divergent.”

Fox Sports Net has been putting more emphasis on its regional shows than what it now calls the “National Sports Report.”

Olbermann, who had stints at Channel 5 and Channel 2, went to ESPN in 1992, where his career blossomed. But he had a bitter parting with ESPN. He spent two years with MSNBC and NBC before coming to Fox.