|
UPDATED THURSDAY, NOV. 12, WITH THE CHRIS MYERS NEWS CONFERENCE What do you think about this? Let us know on the Speak Out page! Fox Signs Olbermann, Myers Enlisting
The 2 Ex-ESPN Announcers Is Another Shot By George Stahl NEW YORK -- It looks like there will be an "ESPN West." Except that, its real name is Fox Sports Net. The Los Angeles-based Fox Sports Net, escalating the battle brewing between "Fox Sports News" and ESPN's "SportsCenter," bought former ESPN anchor and "SportsCenter" legend Keith Olbermann from MSNBC. A few days later, Fox added Chris Myers, host of ESPN's nightly "Up Close." Olbermann will become the main anchorman for Fox Sports News, while Myers will be an anchor on the nightly news show and host of Fox Sports Net's weekly magazine show, "Goin' Deep." "I'm beyond thrilled and excited," Olbermann said in a conference call Tuesday."Getting back into sports is exciting to me." And more profitable. The USA Today reported that Olbermann, who was making $650,000 at MSNBC, will earn about $1 million annually at Fox Sports News. The $1 million salary is in addition, the newspaper reported, to the $1 million check that Fox sent NBC to obtain Olbermann's release from the final two years of his contract with MSNBC. The news network, a venture between Microsoft and NBC, had signed Olbermann slightly more than a year ago after a messy departure from Bristol, Conn.-based ESPN. Olbermann, who reportedly will host MSNBC's "The Big Show" for the last time Dec. 4, is expected to start on "Fox Sports News" shortly after that in mid-December. "I had a pact with Newt Gingrich," the 39-year-old joked Tuesday. "If he quit, I'd quit." Olbermann has been hosting the news-oriented, Clinton scandal-ridden "The Big Show" since December. Olbermann, who launched ESPN2 by welcoming viewers to "the end of my career," is excited by the challenge of working at the young network. "It's amazing that three years ago last week I was reading about this venture starting," he said. "It's an opportunity to build it further and that's exciting. It's great to get back in the game." Olbermann figures to be part of the major Fox network's baseball coverage, although he said Tuesday that his first priority was to Fox Sports News. "As they say, I wouldn't be surprised," Olbermann said of some network assignments. "But my first responsibility is to Fox Sports News. I like doing other things, but I'm a sports highlight guy. I can admit that. Anything else will be ice cream." "The thing I missed most [while at MSNBC] was doing a nightly sports highlight show. That wasn't available to me there. I missed doing imitations of Harry Kalas and saying 'put the biscuit in the basket.' That's why this [joining Fox Sports Net] made the most sense. This came together pretty quickly." The deal also made sense to "Fox Sports News," who has been making steady progress against "SportsCenter" since it began Nov. 1, 1996. "SportsCenter" still leads, averaging a 1.2 rating in October, compared to a 0.9 for "Fox Sports News" during the third quarter of this year. But "Fox Sports News" has shown more growth over the past year, a ratings increase of 62% for its main two-hour block, compared to a 51% increase for the main edition of "SportsCenter." Plus, much of ESPN's growth can be attributed to the NFL. Ratings for "SportsCenter" and ESPN in general were down during the first quarter of this year. (Fox Sports News is available in 62 million homes, compared with 75 million for ESPN. MSNBC is seen in 43 million homes.) ESPN and Fox Sport Net's fight also extends to programming. While ESPN has national contracts with baseball, football and hockey, Fox owns most of the local rights for baseball, basketball and hockey teams. When ESPN tried to start its own regionalized network earlier this year, the aforementioned ESPN West, Fox squelched the idea by signing the Anaheim Angels and Mighty Ducks, both Disney-owned like ESPN, to 10-year contracts. ESPN has since reconsidered - if not, scrapped - its regionalization plans. Arthur Smith, executive vice president of programming and production for Fox Sports Net, said the signing of Olbermann is a big day in the history of Fox Sports Net. "A couple of years ago when we were getting started, Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports News set some goals and this individual was No. 1 on our wish list," he said. "Today, we have made a milestone hire. We look at this hiring as taking another huge stride." At a news conference later in the week to announce the signing of Myers, Smith was happy with Fox's week. "We've shaped a unique news show," Smith said. "We're proud of what we've done. We're not a complacent group here at Fox. We will seek out the best people." Myers said he wasn't looking to move from ESPN. "Originally, I had no desire to move on," Myers said Nov. 12. "For me, this is all about opportunity. I want to be at a place to recognize what I can do, and then go do it." For Myers, the decision reportedly came down to money. The USA Today and Los Angeles Times both said Fox's offer of $500,000 was double what the 39-year-old was making at ESPN. ESPN spokesman Chris LaPlaca told the Los Angeles Times that the network tried but couldn't keep the 10-year network veteran. "We negotiated with Chris in good faith and couldn't come to terms," LaPlaca said. "We have a lot of respect for Chris and wish him well." Myers is expected to ask out of the rest of his ESPN contract, which expires at the end of the year. John Terenzio, Fox Sports Net's senior vice president and executive producer, is excited to have Myers in his stable of anchors. "Chris Myers is the perfect choice to anchor our newscasts and host our news magazine shot," Terenzio said. "His journalistic credentials in the world of sports are impeccable. We are very happy to have him as part of the Fox Sports News team." And Myers is happy, too. "I'm excited about doing anchor work again," Myers said. "I want to do things where my personality can come out. On my interview show, I wanted the personality of the subjects to shine." "With 'Goin' Deep,' I will be able to use some of the ideas I've had and make use of more of the contacts I've made in sports," Myers said. "Down the road, I will be developing my own program for Fox Sports Net." Olbermann and Myers will not be paired, at least initially, the Times reported. A tentative plan has Olbermann paired with Kevin Frazier and Myers with Van Earl Wright, the newspaper said. "Actually, Fox needed someone to drive Keith to work," Myers joked about being reunited with Olbermann, who doesn't drive. Olbermann, who spent 5 1/2 years at ESPN and wrote a book about the job with fellow ESPN anchor and "tag-team partner" Dan Patrick, returns to Los Angeles, where he had stints as sports anchor at two local stations. Olbermann's leaving MSNBC is no surprise. He has voiced his displeasure with the network on a number of occasions. His main job at MSNBC is as host of "The Big Show With Keith Olbermann." He also has been the host of "White House in Crisis," which he once retitled "The White House Isn't In Crisis But We'll Keep Calling It That Because There's A Graphic." And way back in May, Olbermann hinted of his unease in dealing on a daily basis with the Clinton investigation in the senior convocation speech he delivered at Cornell, his alma mater. "About three weeks ago, I awakened from my stupor on this subject [the Monica Lewinsky-President Clinton investigation] and told my employers that I simply could not continue doing this show about the endless investigation and the investigation of the investigation, and the investigation of the investigation of the investigation. I had to choose what I felt in my heart was right over what I felt in my wallet was smart. "I did not threaten them. I let them balance for themselves their professional and moral forces. ... I await their answer." Now, they have his.
Back
to the top |
Today's Lineup | Sports
Pages | Newsstand | Sports
Links
Speak Out | Mailing
List | Spotters | About
Us | Home
Contact us at Info@ArmchairQB.com
