Former MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann has just confirmed a New York Times report that he’s taking his talents to Current TV, the public affairs cable channel co-founded by former vice president Al Gore.
Current TV bills itself as a media company “dedicated to the in-depth investigation and exploration of the world's most important, interesting, and entertaining stories.”
Not only will Olbermann host and executive produce a new nightly primetime news and commentary show on the network, but he’ll also serve as the network’s chief news officer.
"Nothing is more vital to a free America than a free media, and nothing is more vital to my concept of a free media than news produced independently of corporate interference," Olberman says of the network, which reaches 70 million global television households via distribution agreements with Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T, Time Warner, BSkyB (UK), Virgin Media (UK), and SkyItalia (Italy).
On a conference call this morning, Gore said, “I can assure you everyone at current is extremely excited and honored that Keith Olbermann has selected current TV as the new home of his independent voice and his new home.”
Olbermann, who announced his departure from MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” in January, would only say that his new show will premiere “later in 2011.” He’s believed to have a non-compete clause in his exit agreement with MSNBC that keeps him off of television for several months. [Watch his farewell speech at left.]
Meanwhile, Olbermann’s old Fox News Channel rival Bill O’Reilly had predicted that the ratings for his pre-Super Bowl interview with President Obama would be the most-watched in television history. “More people will see this interview than any other interview that’s ever been done in the history of mankind,” he told Fox News’ “Happening Now” last Friday.
Turns out the actual Super Bowl could make that claim on Monday morning -- after its 111 million viewers made it the highest rated television event...ever.
Data for O’Reilly’s 15-minute interview were not available at press time, but the overall half hour of the pre-game show, during which it took place, drew 17.3 million viewers, according to the Times. [Watch O’Reilly’s entire interview with President Obama at left.]
The highest rated TV interview of all time was Barbara Walters’ Q&A with Monica Lewinsky in 1999, which attracted 70 million viewers.
Also, NBC’s Matt Lauer pulled 21.9 million viewers for his 2009 pre-Super Bowl interview with President Obama. However, that exchange happened closer to kickoff, allowing more viewers to tune in closer to game time, the Times said.
Comments