NBC CEO Jeff Zucker: 'I'm Incredibly Comfortable' With Keith Olbermann's Program

[NYCGirl]

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/tv/jeff_zucker_im_incredibly_comfortable_with_keith_olbermanns_program_94597.asp

At this morning's Conde Nast Portfolio-organized breakfast, "The Impact of Today's Economy on the Media M&A Landscape," NBC president and CEO Jeff Zucker addressed Jeff Bercovici's question that the growing perception that MSNBC is benefiting from a left-wing bias:

15 months ago, you wouldn't have even asked me about MSNBC, so I think we've made great progress. At the end of the day, we're talking about business. The fact is MSNBC in the last 12 months has been the fastest-growing cable channel in all of television, new or entertainment. So clearly, it has struck a chord with the audience. I think its programming has clearly worked.

A lot of the basis of your question really emanates from the tremendous emergence of Keith Olbermann's program at 8 o'clock. I think I'm incredibly comfortable with that program. The network seeks, and does an incredible good job seeking, other points of view, but obviously Keith plays a major role in the voice, certainly in that hour and on the network. I think Keith's emergence has been good for that network and I think just like a newspaper that has an editorial page that often has a different point a view, I think that is the role the Keith and others play on MSNBC, which for most of its day is the rest of the front section of the newspaper and then brings an editorial point of view from its editorial page at 8 o'clock at night.

[tblue]

1. Awesome! And then there's Rachel!

[protect our future]

2. Dear MSNBC: Please hire Aaron Brown! n/t

[lamp_shade]

4. and rehire Phil Donahue.

[BlooInBloo]

6. Screw all of that noise. Ashleigh Banfield is at the head of the line.

[City Lights]

7. Gawd yes! Bring back Ashley Banfield! nt

[rvablue]

3. He better be

because if he even dared get rid of Keith and Rachel, his channel would tank in a month.
I predict both Keith and Tweety will be put back on anchoring duty after the first presidential debate when they see how bad their ratings are.
David Gregory isn't the worst, but he's just boring ..... who knows?

[BlooInBloo]

5. Cool - I was worried he'd be canned for that "I apologize for the republicans" moment.

[protect our future]

8. Dear MSNBC: I apologize for your low ratings during the Democratic

Convention in Denver. It wasn't Keith's or Rachel's or Tweety's fault. It's just that me and a reeeely big portion of your normal viewing audience was watching C-SPAN so we could see the entire convention.

[felinetta]

9. I just love Keith!

Keep going Keith!