Keith Olbermann extends contract with MSNBC

November 10, 1:30 PMTV ExaminerRick Ellis

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Keith Olbermann, the anchor of “Countdown,” will remain at MSNBC through the next presidential election season, the cable news channel announced Monday afternoon.

The new four-year agreement calls for Olbermann to continue as host of "Countdown;" additionally, Olbermann will play a prominent role in MSNBC's coverage of all major news events. He will also continue to co-host NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show.

The announcement came less than two years into Mr. Olbermann’s current four-year deal. That February 2007 deal was reportedly worth about $4 million a year, and the network apparently tore up that contract and began negotiations on a new deal.

Financial details of the new contract have not been made public, but are believed to be in the $7.5 million a year range.

“I’m delighted that we can continue to lock Countdown into the nation’s political dialogue through at least the next election,” Mr. Olbermann said in a statement. “Personally, I noticed that as of about six weeks ago, I’d been doing this show longer than I did ‘SportsCenter,’ so it’s delightful to have a true home.”

Mr. Olbermann has anchored “Countdown,” the most popular program on MSNBC, since 2003. In October 2008, the show had its best month ever in the key Adults 25-54 demographic, and is up a tremendous 170 percent in A25-54 from Oct. 2007 and up 180 percent in total viewers. "Countdown" continued its dominance over CNN at 8 p.m., out-rating "Campbell Brown" by 35 percent in A25-54 and 41 percent in total viewers. Excluding coverage of the presidential debates, "Countdown" is the #3 top-rated show in cable news in A25-54. "Countdown" is also the #1 cable news show among young viewers, Adults 18-34.

Appearing on “The View” Monday morning, Mr. Olbermann addressed a question on the minds of many: after years of Bush administration critiques, what will “Countdown” consist of now that a Democrat is about to enter the White House?

“We’re switching to all Mariah Carey as of tonight,” Mr. Olbermann joked.

Whoopi Goldberg asked him where the idea came from for his popular "Worst Persons In The World" nightly feature. "It's an old Bob and Ray sketch," explained Olbermann. "As George Carlin pointed out, there had to be the worst doctor in the world and someone has an appointment to see him tomorrow."

Olbermann's new contract is the latest move in the primetime cable news network wars. Last month the Fox News Channel signed new contracts with the prime time hosts Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity.