ESPN is dropping its online news/sports service Grantland, five months after the departure of the service’s founder Bill Simmons.

ESPN said in a statement that it is “suspending the publication of Grantland’ effective immediately, adding that it will direct it time and energy “toward projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise.”

Grantland was launched in 2011 by Simmons, who left ESPN in May after the sports network did not renew his contract. Two months later Simmons signed a multi-year, multi-platform agreement with HBO.

The rest of ESPN’s statement reads as follows:

“Grantland distinguished itself with quality writing, smart ideas, original thinking and fun.  We are grateful to those who made it so.  Bill Simmons was passionately committed to the site and proved to be an outstanding editor with a real eye for talent.  Thanks to all the other writers, editors and staff who worked very hard to create content with an identifiable sensibility and consistent intelligence and quality. We also extend our thanks to Chris Connelly who stepped in to help us maintain

Two years after returning to ESPN, network host Keith Olbermann is leaving again.

Olbermann, who hosted the talk show Olbermann on ESPN2, will leave when his contract expires in July, according to reports.

ESPN in a statement said: “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.”

The often controversial Olbermann first joined ESPN in 1992 but left in 1997 to do more political commentary on networks such as MSNBC. Olbermann returned to ESPN in 2013.

Olbermann is the second high-profile personality to leave the network this year. This past May the network parted ways with Grantland editor Bill Simmons.

ESPN has named longtime reporter Chris Connelly as the interim editor-in-chief of its sports and pop culture website Grantland.

The move comes a few weeks after ESPN cut ties with longtime columnist and Grantland’s founder, Bill Simmons.

Connelly, who has been with ESPN since 2001, has extensive experience covering pop culture. Prior to joining ESPN, Connelly was with MTV for 13 years and was a music critic for Rolling Stone. From 2000-2007, he was part of ABC’s Academy Awards coverage.

“We are thrilled to have a journalist of Chris’ caliber join us on an interim basis as we go forward and build on the smart, fun, adventurous, creative, unexpected and vital spirit of Grantland,” said Marie Donoghue, ESPN’s executive VP, global strategy and original content.  “Chris has been an award-winning journalist and storyteller in sports, music and pop culture for over three decades, and as a longtime contributor at Grantland, he appreciates the incredible team we have assembled.”

Connelly will continue to contribute stories and reporting to Outside the Lines,E:60 and other ESPN programs including SportsCenter and the annual My Wish series.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

ESPN has suspended Grantland editor Bill Simmons after he called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a “liar” for his handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence mess during a profanity-laden Sept. 22 BS podcast.

Simmons, who was suspended last year for critical comments about ESPN's debate show First Take, will be out for three weeks this time round.

“I just think not enough is being made out of the fact that they knew about the tape and they knew what was on it. Goodell, if he didn’t know what was on that tape, he’s a liar," Simmons said. "I’m just saying it, he is lying. I think that dude is lying. If you put him up on a lie detector test, that guy would fail. For all these people to pretend they didn’t know, is such f*#@)^%g bullshit. It really is. It’s such f*#@)^%g bullshit. For him to go on the press conference and pretend otherwise, I was so insulted.”

Goodell held a press conference in New York on Sept. 19.

Simmons also challenged ESPN -- which is the NFL's largest rights payor, allocating some $1.9 billion annually for Monday Night Football, highlights and other league-related content -- to take action for his remarks about Goodell, noting "I really hope somebody calls me or emails me and says I’m in trouble."

ESPN issued the following statement on Wednesday evening: “Every employee must be accountable to ESPN and those engaged in our editorial operations must also operate within ESPN’s journalistic standards. We have worked hard to ensure that our recent NFL coverage has met that criteria. Bill Simmons did not meet those obligations in a recent podcast, and as a result we have suspended him for three weeks.”

Simmons is the second member of ESPN's talent corps to be suspended over the Ray Rice matter. In July, Stephen A. Smith lost a week over comments on First Take in which he said women sometimes precipitate domestic violence reactions.

No longer a member of ESPN’s NBA Countdown pre- and post-game, Simmons is scheduled to tip off The Grantland Basketball Show next month.

Grantland, the ESPN-owned sports and pop culture site founded by Editor-in-chief Bill Simmons, is making its first foray into television with The Grantland Basketball Show. 

Simmons will leave his current post with NBA Countdown to serve as host of the series, which will air on ESPN throughout the 2014-15 NBA season. The hour-long series will debut on Tuesday, October 21 at 8 p.m. ET. 

ESPN has scheduled 18 episodes to air in the primetime slot throughout the season, including eight episodes during the NBA Playoffs and Finals and additional episodes during events such as the NBA Draft. 

"We're thrilled that Bill will continue to have a presence as part of ESPN's NBA television efforts. The nature of The Grantland Basketball Show schedule will allow Bill to stay connected to the sport he loves, while focusing on his other priorities, including the successful Grantland site and the acclaimed 30 for 30 series," said John Wildhack, executive vice president, production and programming, in a statement. 

Simmons also serves as co-executive producer for 30 for 30, the documentary series which also airs on ESPN. The Grantland Basketball Show is produced by the network's new production company Exit 31.