How Al Gore Offered Keith Olbermann a Job

[NYCGirl]

The only sad thing in the article is Current's viewership, an average of 18,000 homes in primetime. Hopefully, this is a new start for the network.


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/al-gore-offered-keith-olbermann-97680


Less than 24 hours after Keith Olbermann anchored his last edition of Countdown on Jan. 21, Al Gore placed a call to his friend inviting him to join Current TV.

“We've been friends for a while,” Gore told The Hollywood Reporter during a press breakfast in New York on Wednesday.

A contract was quickly hammered out. But it was Gore who convinced Olbermann to join the network, say sources. The former vice president and co-founder of Current was a fan of Countdown where he had also been a guest in the past.

Olbermann's Current show will likely premiere in late May, when the non-compete clause in his exit agreement with NBC Universal will have reached its conclusion. Sources tell THR that that agreement also stipulates that Olbermann cannot work for any network considered a competitor.

[yellerpup]

1. How rich.

Current is not now considered a competitor, but it certainly will be in May! :kick: & Rec.

[NYCGirl]

4. Let's be real. It'll take some time for Current to be competitive.

But it's a start.

[yellerpup]

15. Thumbs up for a fresh start.

It's going to be all right.

[Tx4obama]

17. The FIRST DAY Keith's show airs Current TV will be a hit.

Keith is going to put in a whole new prime time line up.

[Ian David]

2. I was hoping he'd do a 3-hour morning show. n/t

[Cassandra]

8. He doesn't do mornings.

Going way back.

[Ian David]

12. Mark Maron and Sam Seder would probably do a 3-hour morning show on Current. n/t

[Kingofalldems]

3. Freepers hate him--they're 'ascared' of Keith

[dkf]

5. Hey now there really are no constraints on Olbermann.

This is great!

[EyeofRamen]

6. I have a small regional cable provider that does not carry Current TV.

I am considering using a petition site to request, respectfully, that Knology carry Current TV as part of their digital line-up.

My only other choice is to switch to CONcast (which I wouldn't do) or watch the show the next day on HULU - which isn't the best methodology to watch a daily NEWS show. I can't go with satellite because there are too many trees in my neighborhood obstructing the signal (we've tried).

Is there anyone else on here who subscribes to Knology who would be interested in signing a petition?

[Alameda]

9. I don't get it either....I have Dish basic...didn't get KO on it either

[GoCubsGo]

10. You can watch on the Current TV web page

You might not have to wait until the next day there. Don't know if they'll show it live, but I'm betting the video shows up well before it does on Hulu. I'm told they also have a YouTube page. I also have a feeling that somebody will pick it up on one of the free TV sites, like JustinTV.com.

[EyeofRamen]

11. Thanks for the tip!

[karynnj]

7. Very smart move on Gore's part - this is good for both

Gore needs something that gets viewers to make his channel more viable. Other posts said that Gore has Current on cable systems that reach 60 million homes. Of that, he has only about 16,000 primetime viewers. Olberman could be someone who will greatly raise that total. Though that number will likely be far below the numbers he got at MSNBC, which has the ability to reach far more homes, it will give him more freedom - and it appears it was not his choice to leave MSNBC

[SoCalDem]

13. It will take MORE than Keith. If he assumes a general manager style job

and anchors a 90 minute show daily..with no "fluff", and spend the other time arranging a REAL line up to be the Anti-Fox, there is a chance for success.

a few "specials" here and there will not do it.

His cohorts left behind at MSNBC will stay there, since Current cannot possibly match their compensation, but there are plenty of unheard-from voices of the left who will be eager to join up.

A morning 3-hr show should definitely be considered.. "Morning NOT-Joe" format is essential, in order to compare apples to apples.

A lonely guy sitting at a desk, dimly lit, with poor accoustics, (Thom Hartmann) will not make many waves.

It will be interesting to see how it all evolves.

[NYCGirl]

14. Yes, it's a marathon, not a sprint, so to speak. NT

[white_wolf]

19. I like Thom Hartman

of course if he has a show on there and your referring to a poor studio they should really give him better equipment to work with.

[SoCalDem]

23. I like him too..but it looks like he's broadcasting from his garage

He deserves better

[white_wolf]

16. Is Current online anywhere?

I sadly don't have it. Damn you Comcast! Though my parents do have higher cabal than basic so maybe they have it on their TV.

[cynatnite]

18. How I wish we had Current TV here...

:(

Charter will probably never offer it. We have Faux Noise on HD, though. :eyes:

[Tx4obama]

20. Here's a full list of Current TV channel numbers

Current is now available via cable and satellite TV in 75 million households worldwide – 60 million households in the US – through distribution partners Comcast (Channel 107); Time Warner ; DirecTV (Channel 358 nationwide); Dish Network (Channel 196 nationwide); Verizon and AT&T. In the UK and Ireland, Current is available on BSkyB (Channel 183) and Virgin Media (Channel 155), and in Italy, Current is available on Sky Italia (Channel 130). Viewers can also find Current online at www.current.com

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Well my TV will get it

[crazyjoe]

22. 18000 viewers? how are they going to pay him?