MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and ESPN's Chris Myers "will
reunite in January" as hosts of "Fox Sports News," according
to USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke. Fox paid NBC $1M "to obtain
Olbermann's release from the final two years of his
contract," which he signed in June of '97 after leaving
ESPN. Olbermann, who "will earn about" $1M a year at Fox,
will host his final edition of MSNBC's "The Big Show" on
December 4. Myers, who was with ESPN for 10 years, will
have "roles" on Fox's MLB and NFL packages, and "is doubling
his salary to more than $500,000" (USA TODAY, 11/10). In
Baltimore, Milton Kent writes that the move to get Olbermann
and Myers "comes as Fox plans a $2 million advertising
campaign to boost the visibility" of "Fox Sports News"
(Baltimore SUN, 11/10). The marketing effort debuted last
week with TV spots on ESPN and other "primary" markets that
already carry FSN affils such as L.A., Chicago, S.F.,
Detroit and Seattle (GOULD MEDIA'S TV SPORTSFILE, 11/9).
WOULD YOU GO THAT FAR? One Fox Sports Net exec told
Larry Stewart: "For sports, this is like hiring (Peter)
Jennings and (Ted) Koppel" (L.A. TIMES, 11/10).
NOT JUST ANCHORS: NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay writes that
another "possible slot" for Olbermann is "replacing Chip
Caray as the [MLB] pregame studio host on Saturday
afternoons" (NEWSDAY, 11/10). DAILY VARIETY's Rich Katz
reports that Myers will replace Joe Buck as host of FSN's
weekly program, "Goin' Deep" (DAILY VARIETY, 11/10). In
N.Y., Jon Elsen writes that Olbermann's move gives Fox "a
go-to guy who can handle a variety of sports." Elsen also
cites an "industry wag" as saying that NBC "is overjoyed,"
as the net "made money on the deal" by selling Olbermann's
contract to Fox. Elsen also writes that Olbermann "burned
every bridge there was to burn" at NBC (N.Y. POST, 11/10).
RATINGS BOOST? In L.A., Larry Stewart writes that Myers
and Olbermann "will not be paired, at least initially." A
"tentative plan" has Olbermann with Kevin Frazier and Myers
with Van Earl Wright (L.A. TIMES, 11/10). Steve Zipay
writes that Olbermann and Myers "will upgrade the erratic
Fox Sports News presentation" (NEWSDAY, 11/10). In Dallas,
Barry Horn writes that FSN "has been creeping up in the
ratings" on ESPN's "SportsCenter." Horn: "Smelling blood,
Fox is going for the jugular" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/10).
FROM BRISTOL: ESPN spokesperson Chris LaPlaca, on
Myers' departure: "We negotiated with Chris in good faith
and couldn't come to terms. We have a lot of respect for
Chris and wish him well" (L.A. TIMES, 11/10).
