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Olbermann’s New Deal With ESPN: What the Network Won’t Let Him Do

Jul 18, 2013  •  Post A Comment

As part of ESPN’s deal to rehire Keith Olbermann, the television host is banned from talking about a certain subject, The New York Times reports. According to the report, Olbermann has agreed not to discuss politics.

As part of his deal to host a one-hour evening show for ESPN2, he is allowed to speak on issues outside of sports, such as pop culture and current events, except for politics, the story says. He signed a two-year deal with the network that will bring him back later this year.

The story notes, "Within ESPN, there was concern about asking Olbermann back because he left the network under emotionally charged circumstances and because it was feared by some that Olbermann had become too politicized as the host of his interim MSNBC program ‘Countdown,’ which aired from 2003 through January 2011."

Olbermann addressed the issue of his ban on a conference call Wednesday, TVNewser reports.

“The idea that I would want to do anything that was not specifically sports related — even in a political context — I don’t know where this came from. If I wanted to do politics I would still be doing politics. This is something else," Olbermann said.

He added, "If Barack Obama runs onto the field during the All-Star Game, we will talk about it. If George W. Bush wanted to talk baseball I would be happy to have him, but we are not going to talk politics."

The show, called "Olbermann," will debut Aug. 26, TVNewser says.

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