Keith Olberman about to be fired? Sure didn't take BushCo long

[BR_Parkway]

to react to his speaking Truth to Power:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/19/news/companies/media_nbc.reut/?postversion=2006101907

NBC Universal seen slashing news budget, dramas
Media arm of GE set to announce restructuring plan to cut $750 million in operating expenses, including 700 jobs, paper reports.
October 19 2006: 7:21 AM EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- General Electric Co's NBC Universal is set to announce a major restructuring plan, slashing its news budget and abandoning high-cost dramas in the 8 p.m. hour in an effort to cut some $750 million of operating expenses by the end of next year, The Wall Street Journal said Thursday.

The move comes as viewers and advertisers flock away from traditional television and to new kinds of media.

NBC Universal aims to eliminate 5 percent of its global work force, or about 700 jobs, in the coming months, according to the Journal. Most of the initial layoffs will come in the company's 11 news divisions, and they will include on-air talent.

Operations for the cable-news channel MSNBC in Secaucus, N.J., will be shut and moved to Rockefeller Center in Manhattan and another facility in New Jersey, the paper said.

Contact info for MSNBC:

[email protected]

And we need to be contacting Sponsors of the show to get them afraid it will be cancelled and that we'll boycott

[Botany]

1. Keith is making $ for MSNBC

Joe S. is the one to be worried.

[zbdent]

3. Uh, right ... tell that to Phil ...

Remember, GE, a MILITARY COMPLEX, owns NBC ...

The last thing they need to keep on is a person who questions Bush (no matter his ratings) ...

Joe S. is likely to fall back in line after the election ... as the "voice of reason" against the "traitorous majority Dems" ...

[leftofthedial]

14. chris matthews would be worried

were there any justice in Murka

[Ninja Jordan]

32. I don't understand why that show stays on TV

It doesn't pull in ratings at all.

[w4rma]

2. Its my understanding that they are thinking about putting him on C-NBC.

And that they are thinking about getting rid of their 24-hour news station, all together.

I think it's dumb to tear down a structure and a name that took so long to build right when it seems to finally be gaining in ratings, but I don't work for MS-NBC so it will be the idiot executives who will decicde to demolish what they built.

[maine_raptor]

4. If you've noticed lately,

Keith's been broadcasting a lot from 30 Rock lately. With the rise in his ratings, want-ta bet that he got over there early to pick out his nice new corner office?

[Cassandra]

5. How can you tell which studio he's in?

[maine_raptor]

7. The tightness of the shot usually.

But a number of times he's mentioned that he's broadcasting from Rockefeller Center.

[Cassandra]

9. Makes me regret that I no longer have my office...

across from Rock Center. And then I think of the rent I'm no longer paying and feel better. I can always breeze through the neighborhood; you never know who you might see. :-)

[calimary]

18. True. "From New York, this is 'Countdown'" - yep. Probably checking

out the digs over there.

Actually, he should be folded into the "NBC Nightly News" with his commentaries - at the end of the 'cast, EVERY Friday night. There are certainly enough bush/republi-CON outrages to keep him busy.

[NJ Democrats]

6. No he is not

KO is one of the few who has good ratings on MSNBC. They will not fire him.

[BR_Parkway]

22. Certainly hope not, just got to wondering if this was retaliation to

keep him from speaking out against BushCo like they did Phil Donahue

[laugle]

29. Don't be naive, he most certainly could be fired!

Last night when he did his "special comment," I said to my husband, "how long will it take before they fire him?"

Hell, KO is probably one of the few hits they have, but they will bow to the White House dirty tricks, just like others have.

I agree with the OP, we should start writing NOW to sing the praises of KO's show and especialy the amazing and inspirational messages at the end.

Once we take back the House/Senate, people will start backing away from the threats of Rove/White House as there power will diminish.

Olberman is the new Edward R. Murrow, right down to the "Good Night and Good Luck" and that's the last thing this fascist government wants!!

ANYONE HAVE A QUICK LINK??

[acmejack]

8. They had a tough quarter & need to trim costs!

The greedy Sons of bitches! I worked for GE for nine years, I know them all too well. I saw them evolve from a wonderful place to work into the Jack Welck hell hole they are today...
snip>
Net income for the three months ended Sept. 30 totaled $4.96 billion, or 48 cents per share, compared with $4.68 billion, or 44 cents per share, a year ago.
snip>
Revenue climbed 12 percent to $40.86 billion in the latest quarter from $36.37 billion a year ago. Analysts had forecast sales of $39.78 billion.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15247917/

[frankmedia1]

10. Too Many Viewers?

I think Keith is commanding too many viewers.

[William769]

11. The title of this OP has absolutely nothing to do with the article

Why do people do this?

[onenote]

12. because they like to get attention?

[intheflow]

15. Right.

It's not even heresay and conjecture. It's pure rumor fabrication.

[Mr_Spock]

19. I wish I knew

I was looking for Keith's name in the article - not there - hmmmm...

Damned alarmists trying to stir people's emotions up again.

[bluedog]

13. Get rid of "tucker" and Joey Boy......n/t

[Thrill]

16. NO NEED TO WORRY

Olbermann will find another TV outlet. He's too good and has a name.

[JoMama49]

25. He sure has a name in my house! Even my kids are

beginning to like him.

[Mr_Spock]

17. lol

C'mon with the "sky is falling BS"

I didn't see Keith's name there - unless you are paranoid - he is one of their top draws. Look to see bowtie boy & some of the mindless trolls gone before Keith. Let's be realistic now.

[laugle]

30. Your damn right were paranoid!!

We know all too well what these bastards are capable of!!

History has shown us; Phil Donahue, Dan Rather, Ted Koppel to name a few!
They even messed with PBS, because it was "too liberal." Also, Bill Moyers is gone, pressured to leave after speaking out!

Anyone that doesn't tow the right-wing propaganda line is fair game to them.

WHY WAIT..............

Other than KO, who do we have left, PBS, Frontline, The Newshour, BBC, edited for the U.S., not much left!!

[Bake]

20. Tell it to Phil ... my ass!

Yes, Phil may have had good ratings. BUT, and this is a HUGE But: when Phil got the axe, it was not popular nor even acceptable to criticize BushCo. Hell, THESE DAYS, even the Pubbies are running like hell away from Smirk.

Frankly, the difference between Phil and KO is like day and night. KO is actually ENTERTAINING, in addition to being the flagship of the MSNBC lineup.

Bake

[driver8]

21. It's all about the bottom line...Keith isn't going anywhere.

Keith's numbers are up and people are watching...this makes advertisers very happy.

Happy advertisers are a good thing.

[FrenchieCat]

23. Sometimes though it's about the bottom bottomline...which in the

case of GE is achieved by having low Corporate taxes and Defense Contracts....the things that would overide any profits that a modest news channel might generate by getting good ratings. It may make the difference in millions as to how much GE gets to keep in its coffers, and we all know that it is the GOP that is the best friend of large corporations and defense contractors. If the war were to wind down, what would GE ever to do? :shrug:

[Uncle Joe]

27. I agree with your post FrenchieCat

Their news division can be profitable but if journalistic integrity starts to threaten the killing G.E. makes on the business of killing, well then it's sayonara news division.

[warrens]

24. Oh gimme a break

All the freakin hysteria around here. They're reorganizing NBC, and MSNBC may change formats, in which case Keith and Chrissy go to CNBC. Not everything you read is a plot.

[snowbear]

26. No Kidding Warrens -- It's NBC ... NOT MSNBC !!!

To the original poster, show us WHERE in the article it says Keith Olbermann.

But please -- do it quick. My message will probably be deleted just for asking you how you came to this conclusion.

[Timmy5835]

28. Talent stays put

They are ALL under multi-year contracts. Keith is safe...sadly so is Chris.

[NashVegas]

31. This Is What's Happening to My Local TV News

On-camera reporters - those who are not anchors - are being gradually eliminated and replaced by "video journalists," who file reports where you never see a reporter on the camera but instead hear their voiceover.


TV is now eating itself the way radio has been eating itself. And they want to be able to buy up newspapers! My advice, if you work in print news: learn how to operate a news camera and edit the results. Now.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

33. If Keith Is Fired...

we will need to do more than boycott a few sponsors...