This upcoming football season would have been Pam Oliver’s 20th as a sideline reporter at FOX but unfortunately she will not be celebrating her milestone there.
Oliver confirmed the news to Sports Illustrated on Sunday night that she will move to the network’s No. 2 team for her 20th NFL broadcasting season. Erin Andrews has been elevated to the No. 1 sideline spot, joining the team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Oliver’s last season working as a reporter on the NFL will be spent with the No. 2 Fox team of Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch.
Oliver says that she respected Fox Sports president Eric Shanks and executive vice president of production John Entz for delivering the news in person but that she was shocked and stunned to learn that not only was she being removed from Fox’s No. 1 NFL team, but also that she was being taken off the NFL sidelines completely in 2014. After meeting with her agent and other news outlets she eventually came to an agreement with FOX to give her one final year on the NFL sideline albeit with the B-team.
“To go from the lead crew to no crew was a little shocking,” Oliver said. “I said I wanted to do a 20th year [on the sidelines]. I expressed to them that I was not done and had something to offer. Again, I think it was predetermined coming in. Not at that meeting, but two years ago it was determined that no matter what I did or did not do, a change would be made for this year.”
Oliver has often been ridiculed because of her appearance. Her hair was the subject of numerous jokes, memes and taunting online. Oliver is also 53 years old and will be replaced by the younger and more aesthetically pleasing to some, 36-year old Erin Andrews.
“I live in the real world and I know that television tends to get younger and where women are concerned,” Oliver told Deitsch. “Just turn on your TV. It’s everywhere. And I’m not saying these younger girls don’t deserve a chance. I know I’ve had my turn.”
A veteran NFL reporter -– who has worked in television and asked for anonymity -– offered another reason.
“She’s not blonde, nor is she in the demographic,” said the reporter. “I’m not naïve and I understand it’s a business, but I think that Fox did not treat her as befits a woman who has been the female face of their sports operation for the past 19 years.”
Oliver signed a new multi-year contract for Fox Sports last week and will be doing long-form pieces, specials, major interviews and some producing as well. She will continue her work on Showtime’s 60 Minutes Sports.
– Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)