( CNN ) -- After eight years together , MSNBC and Keith Olbermann are parting ways . A statement from NBC Universal revealed the move late Friday . `` MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract , '' it read , `` The last broadcast of 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann ' will be this evening . MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC 's success and we wish him well in his future endeavors . '' At the end of his show Friday night , Olbermann announced his departure in typical deadpan style , evoking scenes from the film `` Network '' and thanking viewers for keeping him on the air for eight years . `` In the mundane world television goodbyes , reality is laughably uncooperative , '' Olbermann said before launching into a story about his exit from ESPN 13 years ago . `` As God as my witness , in the commercial break just before the emotional moment , the producer got into my earpiece and he said , 'um , can you cut it down to 15 seconds so we get in this tennis result from Stuttgart , ' '' he said , half-smiling , pausing for composure . `` So I 'm grateful I have a little more time to sign off here . Regardless this is the last edition of 'Countdown . ' `` Olbermann thanked his crew and co-workers , with special praise for the man he called `` my greatest protector and most indefatigable cheerleader , '' Tim Russert , the host of NBC 's `` Meet the Press '' who died in 2008 . Olbermann was suspended for two days in November of 2010 after the news website Politico revealed donations made to to three Democrats seeking federal office . One of them was Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , who was wounded earlier this month in a mass shooting and attempted assassination in Tucson . He gave $ 2,400 -- the maximum individual amount allowed -- to Giffords ' campaign , and the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva . Conway lost his bid , while Grijalva and Giffords eked out wins . NBC said the donations violated a policy that requires employees of the news organization to obtain permission ahead of any political donations or activities that could be deemed as a conflict of interest . Olbermann complained publicly about his frustration with NBC 's management . He made it clear that he resented the insinuation that he was attempting to hide his actions . `` When a website contacted NBC about one of the donations , I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them ; and contrary to much of the subsequent reporting , I immediately volunteered to explain all this , on-air and off , in the fashion MSNBC desired , '' Olbermann also said in a statement released during the time . He also accused NBC of `` inconsistently '' applying its policy and suspending him without first hearing his side of the story . CNN 's Emanuella Grinberg contributed to this report .
NEW : Olbermann was suspended in July for making political statements . MSNBC has announced in a statement the end of Keith Olbermann 's show . Friday was the last broadcast of ` ` Countdown '' Olbermann discussed the situation at the end of his show Friday night .