I mentioned yesterday as it was a rumor, today it’s a fact. Al Gore says so on his blog.
Keith Olbermann to Host Major New Nightly Primetime News and Commentary Show on Current TV
From Current TV:
“Keith Olbermann, the acclaimed broadcaster and writer whose verbal pyrotechnics and moral passion have outraged, informed, and dazzled viewers of “Countdown With Keith Olbermann” for the past eight years, is bringing his slashing wit, analytical eye, and distinctive commentary to Current Media, the Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning TV and digital media company that was founded in 2005 by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt and is now distributed in more than 75 million households around the world. The news was announced today in New York.”
“In addition to executive producing and hosting a new nightly primetime news and commentary show, Keith 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 weeknights in primetime beginning later in 2011.”
“Keith Olbermann’s show will lead a programming slate on Current that includes original and acquired TV series aimed at a broad adult audience. Current features compelling stories about everyday heroes and ordinary people in extraordinary situations, and takes you to sometimes dangerous and always intriguing places. Current shines a light on controversial subjects, tackling hot issues of the day in a thoughtful and sometimes humorous way. Current engages its viewers by sparking debate and discussion, and via interactive formats that allow viewers to inform its stories.”
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Read it all in the self aggrandizing press release here. Like I said yesterday, look for Olberman to take his “world’s worst” feature and start using it to bash “deniers”. Mark my word.
Fortunately, Current TV has very little cable penetration, from NYT’s MediaDecoder:
A move to Current TV would challenge Mr. Olbermann’s fans of his MSNBC show — where he drew about a million viewers a night — to follow him to a channel that is considerably less accessible. Current TV is available in only about 60 million homes, and is usually provided only on the digital tier of cable television systems, which requires a separate receiver. MSNBC, which is owned by NBC Universal, is available in 85 million homes and is almost always available as a basic cable entry.
It will be interesting to see advertiser reaction to this move. That will make or break it.
I tuned in just now on channel 358 on DirecTV and they had a bunch of crazed greenies learning how to slaughter chickens on some dreckumentary called Kill it, cook it, eat it: “nuggets”. What a great lead in for Keith!
In related news, I also hear Gore is exploring a new game show concept with these guys:
MIT’s “wheel of climate” – image courtesy Donna Coveney/MIT
/sarc
Didn’t he used to host something called: “The Big Show”? *1 *2
Whatever happened to that?
/sarc
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Is the Gore affect about to be extended from sending temperatures into reverse, to sending ratings into reverse?
It will last less then a year…unless he can really piss off enough republicans to watch it.
Every other liberal show goes downhill eventually. Its not that no one wants to listen to it, its just that its more of the same from the main-stream media. I don’t see how he can top the other stories we see on CBS and what not since those stories already have so-called experts come on and make up transgender weather systems such as el nina. Its hard to top those shows nowadays, so without a true original line of thinking for the show, its doomed to failure like the rest.
But like I said, he might be able to upset enough conservatives to have them watch the show…kind of the infamous “backwards” scenario. More then likely, he will just bore liberals to death with stuff they here from other news outlets, and they will just stop watching.
I don’t think advertisers matter at first, it will all be based on the ratings like it always is. This will work itself out eventually…just give it time for apathy to set in as far as this individual goes…
Mr. Watts, are you prepared for the enormous number of browsers that are going to be directed to Watts Up With That? by the first of these Olbermann’s “world’s worst” features?
REPLY: Bring it. I have distributed cloud computing hosting this blog – Anthony
A little background on Current TV might be in order…
Gore and buddy Ron Burkle formed a fund management company and somehow managed to wrest control of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CALPERS) funds. They funneled, er, I mean invested somewhere between $240,000 to $400,000 into the Current TV spec project, without either the knowledge or consent of the CALPERS members.
They’ve probably paid it back by now. Maybe. They hope.
Rush says keith will be paid in carbon credits. That’s about all his is worth.
That is one more channel to block to protect the kids.
Quick i’ll have to upgrade my basic cable??????anything to support big A.
LOL is all one can say………even my Dad, life time Democrat laughs at Al now and thinks he is pathetic.
Serves Olbermann right. I can’t think of a more fitting fate than to end up joined at the hip to the alarmist’s nightmare. Even in AGW alarmism circles Gore is a sorry embarrassment. Now he’s got the perfect frontman [snicker!]
I love the idea of paying him in Carbon Credits. Kudos to MB above for that suggestion!
I’m predicting snow on the television.
Er, I guess I mean Rush. Goshdarn, even the “far right crazies” are starting to look pretty sane these days. 🙂
I don’t think any of us could’ve hoped or wished for such a fantastic fate for Olbermann. It truly is a WTF-moment here at WUWT.
[win the future?]
Note to Anthony,
Carl Parker on the “Weather Channel” just called out a person who sent the Weather Channel an e-mail about the cold and global warming. Parker called him and we others out as wrong and used the 3,031 PHD signed on to global warming.
He used a crude graph of the earth, said that the U.S. only makes up 1.4% of the earth so the U.S. does not matter.
Global warming is hard to prove but the science is settled.
He needs a call out .
thanks
Sorry it happen at 9:20 Texas Time on Feb. 8th, 2011 .
Can you name one (FRC that is)? Just for reference; then, cite what belief, what core written work it is that makes them ‘far right’ … include a link to website/reference and be specific as to ‘the belief’ (IOW no hand waving or broad generalizations) … please? I might be able to learn from this …
.
+1
BTW, heavy snow bands moving through Amarillo ATTM, Interstate highways beginning to become covered as observed through remotely accessible TXDOT highway cameras although semi-tractor trailer rigs are seen moving moving briskly, snow bands can now be seen on the Twin Lakes (TLX) WSR-88D north of OKC in Oklahoma where it’s shows 17 deg. F w/20 MPH winds from the NNE …
Said snow/sleet is prog’d to be in/moving thru Dallas about 8 AM CST.
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What happened to the 2-year non-compete clause in Olbermann’s severance? I’d think that hosting and endowing a direct competitor to MSNBC would be frowned on????
A truly sad end for a great broadcaster. Anyone know where I can send flowers? Ha! Just kidding! Olberman is unhinged so he’ll fit right in with the Gore-Hole. Has anyone started a pool yet to pick the date of Current TV’s demise? I’ll put $20 on June 10th, 2011.
I like Rotten Tomatoes on Current. Some of the shows on Current try to be James Dean cool to the nth degree. But they end up just look like they’re on quaaludes.
Kieth Olbermann was fun when he was doing sports on ESPN then on Fox Sports years ago. Now, he’s just a caricature of left wing politics.
Ben Afflek does a funny parody of him, which I’ve posted om WUWT before.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/countdown-with-keith-olbermann/805561/
So an “also watched” moves into the “never watched”. Adios. Use your degree from Cornell College of Ag and go and milk a few more cows.
So he *still* hasn’t found a job yet …
_Jim + mod says:
February 8, 2011 at 7:44 pm
” [win the future?]
+1″
I suppose it would’ve been better if I’d said it was a W(UWT)TF or WUWT-TF moment. It really is surreal if you take a step back and think about the odds of it.
Last stop before Total Obscurity! Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
God help us
If they spin the wheel fast enough it might burst in flames.! Lets hope so.
“In addition to executive producing and hosting a new nightly primetime news and commentary show, Keith Olbermann will also serve as the company’s Chief News Officer and will have an equity stake in Current Media.”
Reminds me of the Mel Brooks line in Blazing Saddles –
“Why dontcha’ give these out to some of the boys in lieu of pay”
Speaking of Al Gore, Mel Brooks’ The Producers, and equity stakes, I’d bet there’s a dozen guys over at Current Media with 50% equity stakes in the company.
This is a win for Gore. It will slow the bleeding of money, (and by this I don’t mean remotely make a profit). Good business.
This is a loss for Olbermann. It will be a slow and painful death and his equity stake is unlikely to increase in value.
jeez says:
February 9, 2011 at 2:01 am
Now I don’t pretend to know about USA cablecast channels.
But I do recognise a pretty shrewd comment when I see one.
Kindest Regards
The truth of the matter:
http://www.moonbattery.com/olbermann.jpg
At some point pretty soon Al and Keith will request viewer suggested news topics.
Just for grins, lets pull a write in campaign suggesting Bathtub Boy do an on location segment from North Korea. Maybe on how the NoKs keep their co2 waistline fit and trim.
Is this “Jumping the Shark” or the “Jumping the Goracle” moment for Olbermann?
Keith Olbermann and Al Gore . . . . they soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo deserve each other.
A match made in heaven.
Igor, combining our taxpayer money & mystical powers, we’ve created a channel from the dead!
It’s ALIVE! It’s ALIVE! Hahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!
Has anyone told Ann Coulter about this? Can’t wait to see her whack Gorolberman duo. She’s spanked Keith before. Google Coulter on Olberman.
It’s amazing that the two most pompous people on the planet could find each other.
polistra says:
February 8, 2011 at 8:05 pm
What happened to the 2-year non-compete clause in Olbermann’s severance? I’d think that hosting and endowing a direct competitor to MSNBC would be frowned on????
On a good day Anthony probably gets more hits than Current TV has viewers. I doubt that Olbie’s former employer’s, even with their own dismal ratings, would consider it a real competitor.
polistra says:
What happened to the 2-year non-compete clause in Olbermann’s severance? I’d think that hosting and endowing a direct competitor to MSNBC would be frowned on????
Perhaps MSNBC doesn’t consider CurrentTV to be competition?
In re my comment above The Hollywood Reporter says Current TV’s average primetime viewers number 23,000. That’s thousands of folks. They do indicate that Olbie could raise the by a factor of ten, at least in the short term, which would put them at about 3% of an average SpongeBob Squarepants episode.
A wonderful fit. Olberman, who never lets actual facts control or even influence his opinions, combined with Gore who believes facts are whatever matches his predetermined agenda.
Also a good fit in that Olberman is such a pompous, dishonest fool he makes Gore seem logical, reasonable and intelligent by comparison. I am not sure anyone else could accomplish that.
“It’s alive! IT’S ALIVE!!”
— Dr. Frankenstein
I willing to bet that whoever wrote “Keith Olbermann, the acclaimed broadcaster and writer whose verbal pyrotechnics and moral passion have outraged, informed, and dazzled viewers ….” is still balled up in the shower with a brillo pad.
What could possibly go wrong?….
Even though I enjoy the snerking on this topic (’cause I’ve despised both Algore and the Olbermann since first they furunculated in the public eye), I think we’re missing a chance to look speculatively at the aspects of this marriage-made-in-Marxism for indicators of trends in public opinion.
It has been observed that for MSNBC, Olbermann had become a valuable commercial property. In July, MSNBC management informed that Olbermann’s “Countdown” program was their highest-rated offering, and that despite slippages in audience share among key demographic groups, Olbermann’s show was considered a great asset to the network.
This notwithstanding, when it was announced on 5 November 2010 that:
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…the decision taken so soon after the 2 November 2010 landslide which put an end to the National Socialist Democrat American Party (NSDAP) dominance in the U.S. House of Representatives, and resulted in massive legislative and executive changes in state governments all over the nation, gives reason to conclude that the MSNBC leadership had finally marked Olbermann as more of a deadweight than an engine of profitability.
Probably because Olbermann’s ratings slippage had earlier been showing up in what the evening broadcast advertisers consider the key demographic, working people ages 25 to 54 years.
The question now to be examined is whether the actual and potential viewership of Algore’s grope for the botched and the gullible – Current TV – will be increased by the addition of Olbermann’s presence both before the camera and behind the scenes at this floundering excuse for a media outlet.
In June 2010, Reuters reported on the various financial and management problems Current TV was facing, and observed:
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I am willing to consider the notion that this “stakeholder” arrangement with Olbermann is part of a scheme to put enough lipstick on the Current TV pig to make the previously planned but aborted IPO sufficiently remunerative that Algore and his confreres can get out from under, leaving their barely-breathing porker to die on somebody else’s front yard.
In short, Olbermann is a shuck, having been dumped by MSNBC management in the wake of the great public opinion polls of 2 November 2010. He’d been losing market share for several quarters preceding the mid-term elections, and the slaughter of the National Socialists gave strong proof that the future of “Liberal” fascism on broadcast television was down beyond the U-bend.
So what else to do with the Olbermann corpse before it rots away completely?
Why, prop it up someplace where the botched and the gullible – always Algore’s most reliable supporters – could come and watch it twitch, giving the illusion that the venue was a proper place for fools and idiots to sink the “stimulus” currency flooded into the U.S. economy by our Punahou Poverty Pimp excuse for a lawful President of these United States.
Like most confidence games, it’s not all that complicated when you lift the hood and check out the machinery underneath. Think of Algore as your typical used car salesman, and the job’s half done.
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CurrentTV? Never heard of it. Bye bye Keith, you won’t be missed.
Time to break out those old “Sore Loserman” 2000 stickers and shirts.
=>
“Sore
LosermanLosermann2000channel”Two pompous egomaniacs with nary a math or science course between them. Olby has a degree in communications from ag school, the lecher Gore has a degree in government, even the lefty Wikipedia confides that math and science were beyond his capabilities.
In Canada, they teach communications in vocational school, where it belongs. Two barely educated, know-it-alls who know nothing about anything requiring an IQ lecturing on scientific issues, should be lovely. the fun part will be seeing how fast this relationship deteriorates into acrimony as the show flounders and the human carbon sink Gore starts messing with things. Keith, you’ll be back hiding in the bathtub in no time. Good bye and good riddance.
I liked Olberman much more as a sportscaster. At least when he was making fun of sports figures, he had targets that were closer to his level.
“Keith Olbermann… dazzled viewers of “Countdown With Keith Olbermann”
Both of them.
Al (Man Bear Pig) Gore’s network, Current TV, barely heard of it. Imagining it to be like the TV version of Siberian Gulag? Great career move, Olberdork deserves to be exiled.
Tucci78 says:
February 9, 2011 at 11:02 am
“Like most confidence games, it’s not all that complicated when you lift the hood and check out the machinery underneath. Think of Algore as your typical used car salesman, and the job’s half done.”
Having had a number of encounters over the years with used car salesmen with highly dubious moral standards and sharing the common suspicion that they were entirely representative of their professional peers, I would submit that even if all our worst stereotypical beliefs about these folks should prove to be completely true, comparing these poor damned souls to Algore is just cruel and uncalled for.
Peter says:
February 9, 2011 at 2:34 pm : I love succintness; especially when it is accurate.
Rex’s treatment of Gore Olbermann
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/02/12/rex-murphy-gore-and-olbermann-which-one-is-gilligan/
“It’s alive! It’s Alive!! IT’S ALIVE!!!”
— Victor Fronkensteen