Keith Olbermann said that he is "excited about working
again as an anchor on a nightly sports show," as he was
introduced as the newest "Fox Sports News" anchor during a
conference call yesterday. Former ESPN anchor/host Chris
Myers is also joining Fox Sports Net and will be introduced
tomorrow. Olbermann, who will earn between $800,000 and
$900,000 a year, will make his "Fox Sports News" debut on
December 14 or 15 (Larry Stewart, L.A. TIMES, 11/11).
NO MORE MONICA: Olbermann, on his decision to leave
MSNBC: "I had a pact with Newt Gingrich. If he quit, I'd
quit" (THE DAILY). Olbermann, on his time at MSNBC: "I
could not brand my move to MSNBC a mistake, because I
learned so much from it. But for what I wanted to do with
my career, it was a mistake. I thought my problem was with
sports. But my problem was with the grind of the job and
the people I worked for" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/11).
More Olbermann: "I have grown up a little more, and now I'll
be sillier because there is less time to be silly" (N.Y.
TIMES, 11/11). Olbermann, on competing with ESPN's
"SportsCenter": "I don't think there is an actual revenge
factor. Revenge to me implies people suffering. ... People
are going to say this is Dan (Patrick) vs. Keith. There is
a large universe of people who watch, and I think we can
share it pretty well" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/11).
MORE ON THE MOVES: USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke reports
that Myers inked a four-year deal with Fox worth $400,000
annually, and he will "have the opportunity to develop his
own show." ESPN Exec Editor John Walsh said that Jimmy
Roberts, Mark Schwarz and Andrea Kremer "are among those
being considered to replace Myers" on "Up Close" (USA TODAY,
11/11). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Stephen Battaglio writes
that while "Fox Sports News" has "made some inroads," ESPN's
"SportsCenter" is "still the clear leader in the genre." In
October, the 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" averaged 956,000
households, up 56% from October '97. "Fox Sports News"
averaged a total of 318,000 HHs for its 10:00pm and 11:00pm
ET editions. Fox ratings "have been hurt recently" by the
loss of NBA games as a lead-in (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/11).
FROM IMUS: Don Imus, on Olbermann's departure from
MSNBC: "He's going to move to L.A. and he's going to do Fox
Sports and obviously we like him and we want him to do well,
but one of the reasons we [Imus] didn't leave MSNBC and go
to Fox ... is because, one, I have a little loyalty and two,
where are you going to see it? I don't know. What channel
is that on?" ("Imus in the Morning," MSNBC, 11/11).
WHERE'S THE PROMOTION? "Fox Sports News" prime time
made no mention during its 6:00pm ET hour-long broadcast of
Fox's hiring of Olbermann ("Fox Sports News," FSN, 11/10).
