Current TV is hoping Olbermann will transform the network from an also-ran into a contender. Keith Olbermann, who left MSNBC without advance notice a couple weeks ago, announced his brand new endeavor Tuesday. Olbermann will host a new show on Current TV depending on his personality much like he did at MSNBC.
Current TV no longer unseen
Current TV is soon going to be featuring Olbermann. Now, the channel founded by Al Gore will have more user generated content coming up. Programming on Current TV was depending on short segments called “pods” targeted to an audience aged 18-34. The pods never took off, and now Current TV programming features re-runs of documentaries such as “This American Life.”. There are about 23,000 prime time audiences of Current TV while 60 million cable subscribers can see it. MSNBC would get with "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" about 1 million viewers. Olbermann will hopefully be help Gore make the network do better.
Current TV letting Olbermann express views
In order to let Olbermann express his point of view, he is being given free rein on Current TV. Because he donated to Democratic political candidates, he got suspended before departing from MSNBC. Restrictions like this won't be put in place by Current TV, Gore said. This is with the understanding that Keith Olbermann is completely allegiant as the "chief news officer" there. He has a nightly show that will keep Olbermann busy. As part of this change, he will get an equity stake in Current TV as well. The Nielsen ratings do not even use Current TV. Olbermann's hire will be an excellent thing for Current TV's lineup in prime time commentary. Gore explained this in a teleconference.
Show will feature more of the very same Olbermann
During the announcement of his move to Current TV, Keith Olbermann said that he accepted Gore’s offer for the chance to produce news independent of corporate interference. Current TV was labeled a "model truth-seeking entity" by him. He didn't name any specific people in his criticism of the corporate world. He did say that corporate decisions should not include the way that stories are covered though. He said his new show, as yet untitled, would be “an improved and amplified version of the show I just did.”
Articles cited
Entertainment Weekly
insideTV.ew.com/2011/02/08/olbermann-current-TV/
USA Today
usatoday.com/life/television/news/2011-02-08-keith-olbermann-current-TV_N.htm
New York Times
mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/keith-olbermann-to-host-show-and-have-executive-role-at-current-TV/?hp
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