Keith Olbermann going to Current TV
Read Time:2 Minute, 48 Second
One of the worst kept secrets appears to be that former Countdown host Keith Olbermann is now headed over to cable’s Current TV. From the NYT:
Keith Olbermann, the former top-rated host on the news channel MSNBC, will announce his next television home on Tuesday, and people on Monday familiar with his plans pointed to a deal with the public affairs channel Current TV.
Mr. Olbermann, his representatives and executives from Current TV declined to comment on the move, but they did not deny that the channel, which counts former Vice President Al Gore as one of its founders, will become at least one partner in Mr. Olbermann’s future media plans.
One of the people with knowledge of the plans said Mr. Olbermann would have an equity stake in Current TV. The people insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized by their employers to comment in advance of the official announcement.
On Monday a public relations agency hired by Mr. Olbermann scheduled a Tuesday morning conference call for an announcement about his next job. “He and his new partners will make an exciting announcement regarding the next chapter in his remarkable career,” the agency wrote in an e-mail.
Current TV has set up a presentation with advertisers for Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan to announce its future plans. The channel may be betting on Mr. Olbermann to put it on the cable map. The low-rated five-year-old channel needs the help. Targeting young people, it originally subsisted on YouTube-style submissions and video journalists. More recently it started producing and acquiring traditional television series, like repeats of “This American Life.”
I like Current TV and do watch it, but it’s not a channel that all people have access to. Olbermann has a phone conference set up this morning with the media shortly. More info when it becomes available.
UPDATE: He will host a one hour show five nights a week and is considered their News Director. Current already has his website up and you can view it here (opens in new window). From Currents press release:
In addition to executive producing and hosting a new nightly primetime news and commentary show, Olbermann will also serve as the company’s Chief News Officer and will have an equity stake in Current Media.The new show will air live weeknights in primetime beginning later in 2011.“Nothing is more vital to a free America than a free media, and nothing is more vital to my concept of a free media than news produced independently of corporate interference,” said Olbermann. “In Current Media, Al Gore and Joel Hyatt have created the model truth-seeking entity. The opportunity to partner with Al, Joel and Mark Rosenthal makes this the most exciting venture in my career.”“Keith Olbermann is a gifted thinker, an amazing talent and a powerful communicator, and having him tap Current as his new home is exciting and very much in line with the core vision we founded this network on: To engage viewers with smart, provocative and timely programming,” said Al Gore, Chairman and co-founder of Current. “In a world where there are fewer and fewer opportunities to hear truly distinct, unfettered voices on television, we are delighted to provide Keith with the independent platform and freedom that Current can, and does uniquely offer.”
Alrighty then!
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It is encouraging that Keith Olbermann’s new position will provide an opportunity for news and commentary that is progressive, thought provoking, direct, well researched and significantly above the eighth grade intellectual – and grammatical – level so prevalent in most television news today.
In addition, it is interesting – based on the level of vitriol and the quality of writing – that many who have commented negatively engage in the same level of critique that one might find in an elementary school yard or on FAUX News. Obviously the dumbing down of America continues.
OK, where is Current TV in Dallas Comcast? Anyone know?
Seeing Olbermann in a hard hat reminds me of the boys from local #17 in Chicago, who would “visit” us travelers working in their territory so that we would be able to “thank” our beneficiaries. Guys in 3-pc suits, wearing hard hats, makes guys like me want to pour some very staining industrial solvents on their clothes.
That is good news! Now we need to pressure more cable and satellite providers to carry Current TV — and Link TV too — another worthwhile channel that not all provide.
LinkTV is great as well. During the height of the Cairo mess, they were showing Al Jazeera live.
I have Satellite..Directv..Murdoch’s product. I hate that he owns it but it is the best for where I live. And it’s not any more expensive than those yahoo’s at BrightHouse, who seem to go off air daily.
That sucks for the people that don’t have the money to tier up the cable ladder how will they get the Keith fix I wonder. They can see it online though right? I have to admit to ignorance of this channel unless someone sends me a clip or two. Now that my next, future ex husband will be there, I’ll be more into it. Yes Dusty, I am truly that shallow.
Jess, you aren’t shallow as I have always said I would leave the current Ball n Chain for KO. 😉 I don’t know if Current TV has online content, but I think they would a they try to be very cutting edge.
I updated the post with a link to KO’new page on Current..check it out.
Most of their stuff is geared towards the younger audience. I do watch them, they have a lot of documentaries, the ones I have been watching have been on the hiphop/rap culture.
I knew they couldn’t keep him down.