Keith Olbermann and Countdown GONE from MSNBC

[gregg75]

Yes Comcast is saying now that it was all Keith's doing and he wanted to leave. Well if
that's what really happened and it was all so goody-goody why can't he tell us that himself?

We're only getting one side (the Comcast side) just like the FCC got and was blinded by.

F.Y.I. I told you I'm not big on political talk shows. To me, this DRAMA is far more interesting
than the show could have ever been. I just hope Comcast didn't pay all that money just to
take out one guy.......that would be soooo crazy.

 

[TheBigA]

Yes Comcast is saying now that it was all Keith's doing and he wanted to leave. Well if
that's what really happened and it was all so goody-goody why can't he tell us that himself?

It's just like Conan. He will.

According to the NY Times:

The decision was completed one year to the day from the last time NBC decided to end a relationship with an on-air star: Conan O’Brien. Mr. O’Brien agreed in the deal not to start up a new television show for nine months, and not to grant interviews for five months. The executives involved in the discussions with Mr. Olbermann said his agreement was not dissimilar to Mr. O’Brien’s.

 

[kilamanjero]

Liberals need not fret. They can still get their fill of socialism from Rachel Madcow and Chris (let me interrupt you) Matthews.

Comcast executives hinted some changes would be made once they purchased NBC and MSNBC.

So hoist up the guillotine and let's see whose neck is next to be chopped off.

Why are you trying to be political? Also learn the definition of socialism before you start to toss it around...

 

[KERCAlum]

Howsabout we do this with FNC, CNN, and MSNBC? Instead of filling the airwaves with recycled opinions (on both the left AND right), since at least FNC and CNN have "news" in their names, why don't they just provide us with NEWS? Stick to the facts - all the facts, even the "inconvenient" ones (from whatever point of view you choose to look) and let the VIEWERS make up their own minds! And cut back on the number of "opinion" shows (which, if a network is going to run them 24/7, why not call it an "opinion" channel instead of a "news" channel?) which, while they may bring in viewers, do next to nothing to advance the dialogue in this country.

There really is an intelligent life form on this side of the tube (with apologies to Gene Roddenberry) and we can handle the facts just fine, thanks. What we don't need is someone (regardless of political leaning) telling us what they think we should think.

 

[LKellerIII]

Howsabout we do this with FNC, CNN, and MSNBC? Instead of filling the airwaves with recycled opinions (on both the left AND right), since at least FNC and CNN have "news" in their names, why don't they just provide us with NEWS? Stick to the facts - all the facts, even the "inconvenient" ones (from whatever point of view you choose to look) and let the VIEWERS make up their own minds! And cut back on the number of "opinion" shows (which, if a network is going to run them 24/7, why not call it an "opinion" channel instead of a "news" channel?) which, while they may bring in viewers, do next to nothing to advance the dialogue in this country.

I agree with your sentiment - but the answer to your question is two-fold:

(1) These shows get decent ratings because there are tons of "dittohead" viewers out there that tune in to hear their own political opinions reinforced. All you have to do is compare recent ratings for CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. CNN is losing because they haven't taken sides in the current political wars.

(2) It's cheaper to produce a talking-heads commentary and interview program than an hour of real news, even when you figure in the big salaries of Hannity, Beck, and the others.

 

[TheBigA]

(2) It's cheaper to produce a talking-heads commentary and interview program than an hour of real news, even when you figure in the big salaries of Hannity, Beck, and the others.

Well maybe. The real issue is repetition. You ever watch Headline News? It's the same stories recycled over and over. Same with those local 24/7 cable news channels. Sure it's all local news, but it's the same stuff recycled all day long. That doesn't give someone reason to stay with the channel for more than 10 minutes. The original programming, whether it's talk shows or Dateline documentaries, keep people watching for longer periods of time.

 

[JeeperOne]

So let the speculation begin...

Where will he wind up? CNN? FOX? Local TV Station? ???

CNN/HLN - Remember Rick Sanchez?
Fox News/Fox Business - Conservatives would REVOLT
Bloomberg - Wouldn't have any use for him

Word is he'll start HIS OWN media empire (Mainly online akin to The Young Turks). Beyond that, he'd be better off doing a progressive talk show on either terrestrial radio (Now that there's more stations out there) or satellite radio rather than doing another TV gig. He's burnt way too many bridges.

Cheers

 

[JeeperOne]

Wanna bet CNN will be trying its hardest to bring Keith to their network, or to HLN?

Not anymore than MSNBC would try to lure Rick Sanchez into taking Keith's place.

Read my earlier post.

Cheers

 

[landtuna]

Here's a summary of the whole mess from the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/business/media/24olbermann.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25

 

[JeeperOne]

Wanna bet CNN will be trying its hardest to bring Keith to their network, or to HLN?

My vote is for the (Al Gore-owned) cable channel Current. That's as far left on cable as you can get.

Which is basically YouTube TV

Cheers

 

[JeeperOne]

I'm thinking that since the Arizona shootings, MSNBC wanted Olbermann to tone down. And he didn't like that.

...on the night of the Tucson Massacre, Olbermann himself was on MSNBC calling on the Faux Noise Channel twerps to "tone down." They haven't. Why the hell should Olby have had to?...

Because, obviously, his job depended on it.

So do the jobs of all the FNC pundits. Yet not one of them have been fired.

This is nothing more than yet another attempt by the Conservative Right Wing to silence the Progressive Left Wing. As usual, it will fail as someone else will replace Keith (Like Cenk Juger maybe?)

JMO.....

Cheers

 

[JeeperOne]

Liberals need not fret. They can still get their fill of socialism from Rachel Madcow and Chris (let me interrupt you) Matthews.

At least Rachel TRIES to interview people on the political Right (Her trips to Delaware & Las Vegas last year weren't just for vacation ya know). Her problem is GETTING CONSERVATIVES TO TALK TO HER

As for Chris Matthews - He's just B O R I N G

Cheers

 

[MsMusicRadio]

How about an HBO series like Maher?

 

[DToTheJ]

Wanna bet CNN will be trying its hardest to bring Keith to their network... ?

Remember, Keith used to work at CNN at around its inception in the early 80's. He was a sports anchor. So technically, CNN would be bringing him back in this case.

 

[jondavidvox]

Keith Olbermann...Truly one of the most talented Broadcasters I've ever seen.

I talked to him once. He had just done a tribute to the man, newly passed, who had first seen the undeniable chemistry between himself and Dan Patrick at CNN, and the amazing ability the rest of us would soon see.

This mentor had taken him aside and explained the realities of Big-Time Broadcasting, and Keith had gotten the message.

Following that breathtaking moment, I went to the phone, called Bristol Connecticut, got him at his desk, explained who I was, and told him that he was the best Television Broadcaster I had ever seen. He replied with a gracious "Thank you." I wished him the best of fortunes, and said goodbye.

As time progressed, I watch his slide to the Left. And while his intellectual and broadcast powers grew, his willingness to tell only half the story forced me away.

While I suppose there is a place for a committed Broadcaster to balance the story, to do so while becoming part of the problem has always mystified me. To be as talented as Keith Olbermann, and then decide that course of action is required, belies an amazingly pervasive cancer within American Journalism...

The Truth isn't interesting enough....Balanced coverage isn't evocative enough...Credible Opinion is more profitable than Credible Reporting...pity.

And so another genius Television Broadcast Journalist impales himself on the clash between company and conscience, policy and persuasion, Truth and agenda.

At the end of all of it, even for the amazing Keith Olbermann, will be the inexorable realization that when reporting the News, the crystalline precision of undeniable Truth will always trump the transitory warm, fleshy feeling of imagined well-being that surrounds the half-told fable...

Thankfully, what actually is, will always overcome "what ought to be"....The solvent between the two, is only Time.

Many will miss Keith...I've missed him for a long time. I wonder if he will ever be back...

Jon-David Wells
The Wells Report
NewsTalk 660, KSKY
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

 

[MattParker]

Keith Olbermann...Truly one of the most talented Broadcasters I've ever seen.

I talked to him once. He had just done a tribute to the man, newly passed, who had first seen the undeniable chemistry between himself and Dan Patrick at CNN, and the amazing ability the rest of us would soon see.

This mentor had taken him aside and explained the realities of Big-Time Broadcasting, and Keith had gotten the message.

Following that breathtaking moment, I went to the phone, called Bristol Connecticut, got him at his desk, explained who I was, and told him that he was the best Television Broadcaster I had ever seen. He replied with a gracious "Thank you." I wished him the best of fortunes, and said goodbye.

As time progressed, I watch his slide to the Left. And while his intellectual and broadcast powers grew, his willingness to tell only half the story forced me away.

While I suppose there is a place for a committed Broadcaster to balance the story, to do so while becoming part of the problem has always mystified me. To be as talented as Keith Olbermann, and then decide that course of action is required, belies an amazingly pervasive cancer within American Journalism...

The Truth isn't interesting enough....Balanced coverage isn't evocative enough...Credible Opinion is more profitable than Credible Reporting...pity.

And so another genius Television Broadcast Journalist impales himself on the clash between company and conscience, policy and persuasion, Truth and agenda.

At the end of all of it, even for the amazing Keith Olbermann, will be the inexorable realization that when reporting the News, the crystalline precision of undeniable Truth will always trump the transitory warm, fleshy feeling of imagined well-being that surrounds the half-told fable...

Thankfully, what actually is, will always overcome "what ought to be"....The solvent between the two, is only Time.

Many will miss Keith...I've missed him for a long time. I wonder if he will ever be back...

Jon-David Wells
The Wells Report
NewsTalk 660, KSKY
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

He wasn't a reporter. He was a talk show host. There is a difference. Something those idiots at NBC News failed to understand in running a news-talk channel. They didn't understand it with Phil Donahue, with Imus or with Olbermann. They don't understand about format and audience flow, either, or else they would never have let Morning Joe on the channel. And no broadcasters understand what social psychologists have known for some 60 years: People don't want "balanced coverage." It is an anomaly in the history of journalism. Pulitzer and Hearst never practiced it. Now with large numbers of cable channels there is no need for the pretense of balance.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Liberals need not fret. They can still get their fill of socialism from Rachel Madcow and Chris (let me interrupt you) Matthews.

Yes, but Maddow was able to keep her composure and remain professional during the aforementioned
Conservative wins that were driving Keith right over the edge. From an entertainment standpoint, it is
just not the same.

 

[TheFonz]

I'm thinking that since the Arizona shootings, MSNBC wanted Olbermann to tone down. And he didn't like that.

...on the night of the Tucson Massacre, Olbermann himself was on MSNBC calling on the Faux Noise Channel twerps to "tone down." They haven't. Why the hell should Olby have had to?...

Because, obviously, his job depended on it.

So do the jobs of all the FNC pundits. Yet not one of them have been fired.

This is nothing more than yet another attempt by the Conservative Right Wing to silence the Progressive Left Wing. As usual, it will fail as someone else will replace Keith (Like Cenk Juger maybe?)

JMO.....

Cheers

There's no need for Conservatives to "silence". Nobody hears the Left Wing anyway. MSNBC"s ratings are dismal. Can you say "Air America"?