Keith Olbermann Out at ESPN, Once Again

Keith Olbermann, the television anchor who has left many a network amid controversy, including ESPN, MSNBC and Current TV, is once again leaving ESPN amid controversy, less than two years after returning to the organization.

Jim Miller, the author of the definitive book on ESPN's history, reported Wednesday that Olbermann will leave the sports network when his contract is up at the end of July. The news comes one week after The Hollwyood Reporter revealed that ESPN wanted Olbermann to agree to cease engaging in “commentary” on his ESPN2 program.

ESPN released a statement about Olbermann's forthcoming departure, saying, “Keith is a tremendous talent who has consistently done timely, entertaining and thought-provoking work since returning to ESPN. While the show’s content was distinctive and extremely high quality, we ultimately made a business decision to move in another direction. We wish Keith nothing but the best and trust that his skill and ability will lead him to another promising endeavor.”

Olbermann had been suspended by the network earlier this year after he tweeted at Penn State University supporters that they were "pitiful" and "morons." Olbermann also came under fire in August of last year after calling on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to resign because of his “weak, damaging and almost enabling reaction” to the Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal.

Such controversy has attended Olbermann's entire television career. He was forced out of ESPN in 1997 after making disparaging remarks about the network; forced out of MSNBC in 2010 after revelations that he'd made donations to political campaigns; and fired from Current TV in 2012 for what the network described as "material breaches of his contract, including the failure to show up at work, sabotaging the network and attacking Current and its executives."

Per Miller, ESPN wanted their second parting with Olbermann to be "amicable," and described it as a "business decision."