Olbermann to go to Al Gore's TV station?

[Frustratedlady]

Breaking from Newsmax.com

Olbermann Moving to Al Gore's Current TV

Keith Olbermann, the controversial host recently ousted by MSNBC, is going to work for former Vice President Al Gore. Olbermann said he would announce his next destination Tuesday, but The New York Times reported it likely will involve a deal with the public affairs channel Current TV, co-founded by Gore.

Neither Olbermann, his representatives, nor executives from Current TV would comment on the move to the Times, but they did not deny that the channel will be at least one partner in Olbermann’s media future.

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 to the Times.

Olbermann announced last month on air that he had resigned as host of "Countdown" following a frayed relationship with the network; he was briefly suspended in November for making political campaign contributions. Since leaving the network he has left cryptic messages on his Twitter page such as "Watch this Space."

[itsrobert]

1. There are other sources

Don't see why you chose to use Newsmax here.

[Frustratedlady]

2. Sorry, I didn't know they were banned? My bad. n/t

[Erose999]

3. This should be interesting although Current has a much smaller audience than M$NBComcast. I hope KO

also keeps a presence in the "mainstream" media as well, perhaps as a columnist or something.

[Frustratedlady]

4. I don't even know where to get Current. I knew Gore had a station...

..but I've never paid that much attention, I guess. Thought it was regional.

[Erose999]

7. Its probably not on "basic cable" if you have that. We have Direct TV and I think its channel 358.

[Frustratedlady]

10. Thanks. I'm probably doomed. Wonder if there's a link on the Net? n/t

[Erose999]

13. Here's a "channel finder" on their website. A list of cable and sat. providers that carry Current:

http://current.viewerlink.tv/

[Frustratedlady]

17. That's what I figured. Mediacom doesn't carry Current. Thanks! n/t

[HipChick]

19. Verizon Fios doesn't seem to carry it either..hope they plan to have full program segments online

[Bluenorthwest]

9. The way you expand your audience is to bring in a draw.

This, if it is true, is an excellent development indeed. KO needs to be more than an on air presence, he should be helping create a news and information department, with influence larger than his own show. Current TV does the best work in television today in terms of documentary journalism, and for a year or two now, I have wanted them to get a name up on that marquee.
To be blunt about it, many liberal people told me flat out that the Current on air talent was too young, so they refused to watch it. Although we think of 'our side' as being above that stuff, Current needs a star to pull in the viewers. I've seen reports on Current, then the next day a friend will tell me no one is covering that story, and when I point out what I saw on Current they dismiss it for various reasons, which all boil down to wanting pre-approved talent to watch. They think they are saying something deeper, but that is it. They don't recognize the faces, so they go watch CNN.

[YvonneCa]

11. CONFIRMED now...

...Hufpo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/08/keith-olbermann-new-showcurrent-tv-news-officer_n_820198.html?ref=twitter

Also on Twitter by both Keith and Al Gore. :) He'll be news director, BTW. :7 A bit of poetic justice? ;)

[Erose999]

15. Maybe their next "draw" will be Dan Rather. I think he may have a couple of years left in him.

[Frustratedlady]

16. Isn't Dave Shuster a good friend? n/t

[Bandit]

5. I seem to recall Gore saying his Network would Not be about politics..

:shrug: I think he would be better suited for a talk radio slot some place.

[KharmaTrain]

6. 5 Years Ago He Did...

...when the channel started up. It's been drifting ever since. They've attempted to reach a young audience and not sure its been that effective.

I agree with you about KO doing radio...but I also see him becoming more active in blogging that would help give him exposure. It's an interesting gamble...

[Erose999]

8. Apparently KO has an "equity stake" in Current so he's now a partner with Gore. Link below:

http://current.com/keith-olbermann/

[bdamomma]

12. it says he will be on later 2011, when later???

[NotThisTime]

14. As soon as MSNBC would allow I imagine....

[KamaAina]

18. Bye Bye Keith

your new channel is on a premium tier here, and I suspect most other places. :grr: