Keith Olbermann and ESPN are on the outs _ again

Two people with knowledge of Olbermann’s role at ESPN said the expenses associated with Olbermann and his New York City production were being targeted by executives at the network, partly because the weekday show is not particularly high-rated.

“Keith is a tremendous talent who has consistently done timely, entertaining and thought-provoking work since returning to ESPN”, the network said in a statement Wednesday. “We wish Keith nothing but the best and trust that his skill and ability will lead him to another promising endeavor”, it added. Olbermann was highly critical of National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell over his handling of the Ray Rice scandal.

Many believed that he would not endure the entire length of his contract with ESPN once it was renewed, but he is expected to continue to make appearances on his show until the end date.

Company officials reportedly chose not to re-sign Olbermann to a new contract rather than fire him. In July of previous year, ESPN suspended Stephen A. Smith in the wake of controversial remarks the popular host made about women and domestic violence. He later apologized, saying his remarks were “stupid and childish”. Miller posted on Twitter: “The second @KeithOlbermann era at @espn has come to a close”.

Olbermann has enjoyed a storied career, but has also been involved in some famous conflagrations with his employers.

Earlier this month, ESPN denied reports that it wanted Olbermann to pare down on sports commentary.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Olbermann worked for Fox Sports and not Fox News.

Despite a seeming penchant for confrontation, Olbermann is a proven draw. As a prime time anchor on MSNBC in the mid-2000s, he channeled the country’s anti-war sentiments during the Iraq war and became a well-known critic of the Bush administration. He clashed with owners there as well, and was eventually dismissed. Mr. Olbermann’s behavior around the Bristol campus was so polarizing that even the mild-mannered veteran Bob Ley would later tell the authors of the oral history “These Guys Have All the Fun” that when he eventually parted ways with ESPN, “we felt not so much relief … as unrestrained f***ing joy”.