On Media Blog Archives Select Date… December, 2015 November, 2015 October, 2015 September, 2015 August, 2015 July, 2015 June, 2015 May, 2015 April, 2015 March, 2015 February, 2015 January, 2015

REUTERS Olbermann reportedly returning to ESPN

Update: ESPN formally announced on Wednesday morning that Keith Olbermann will host a new late-night program Monday-Friday on ESPN2, starting Monday, Aug. 26. The show will be called "Olbermann." The original story follows.

Keith Olbermann, the fiery television anchor who has made a contentious exit from nearly every network he's worked for, is reportedly returning to the place where he launched his career: ESPN.

ESPN is expected to announce on Wednesday that Olbermann has signed a two-year contract to host a daily, one-hour show on ESPN 2, according to The New York Times, which cited three executives with knolwedge of the deal.

"On his new show, Olbermann will be free to discuss matters other than sports, including pop culture and current events, but not politics, the two-year pact specifies," the Times reports, noting that "some ESPN insiders" had objected to the hire.

Olbermann had expressed interest in returning to ESPN as early as March, though network president John Skipper said at the time he was not “prepared” to bring the commentator back. On Friday, the New York Daily News reported that Olbermann was in "serious discussions" with ESPN.

There's a slight hitch here, though, as Olbermann has also agreed to host Turner Sports' coverage of the Major League Baseball playoffs this fall. The Times report did not state how Olbermann might divide or schedule his responsibilities to the two networks.