Erin Andrews will replace Pam Oliver as Fox's lead sideline reporter for NFL games. Oliver, whom Fox will remove from the sidelines all together after the 2014 season, admitted she was shocked by the demotion as she heads into her 20th season on the job.
Oliver confirmed her demotion and subsequent removal from the sidelines after the 2014 season to Sports Illustrated. Fox will feature her on the network's No. 2 team, led by broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch.
Fox told Oliver the news in person last April, and she admitted it came as a surprise because she felt she still had a lot to offer as a sideline reporter.
"To go from the lead crew to no crew was a little shocking," Oliver told Sports Illustrated. "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."
Sports Illustrated reported Oliver and her agent took meetings with other networks before Fox relented and gave her one final year as an NFL sideline reporter.
One veteran reported, who wished to remain anonymous, wasn't surprised by Oliver's demotion.
"She's not blonde, nor is she in the demographic," the reporter told Sports Illustrated. "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."
Fox, though, spun the demotion as a promotion, saying Oliver would now do specials, major interviews, long-form pieces and some producing after the 2014 NFL season.
"Clearly it's an expanded role that meets the needs of all the big events that Fox and Fox Sports 1 covers as well as the NFL on Fox," Fox Sports president Eric Shanks said. "I can't think of a more respected person in the entire industry than Pam Oliver, and when you find out that Pam is going to be doing the interview, I don't think you would say that anyone else would do the interview better.
"Her being part of the Fox family now and in the future is really important to us. The move is hugely positive to where Fox Sports is going and building its journalistic chops and credibility 365 days and not just 17 days a year."
