Coincidence? Keith Olbermann Departs MSNBC Day After FCC Approves Comcast Takeover

by Colby Hall | 10:17 pm, January 21st, 2011

» 36 comments

Shockwaves were felt through the cable news world late Friday night when word broke that Keith Olbermann and MSNBC would suddenly be parting ways. In some ways this news wasn’t terribly surprising as the relationship between MSNBC and the Countdown host had soured in the last year or so. Its clear that Comcast had consulted with NBC about Olbermann and expressed concerns about the firebrand anchor.

To put things in proper perspective, its important to recognize that when Olbermann started at MSNBC eight years ago, the fledgling cable news channel was on relative life support. And while there are many at MSNBC who are also responsible in righting a then sinking ship (including Mediaite founder and former MSNBC GM Dan Abrams) Olbermann was arguably the most significant factor behind MSNBC’s stunning turnaround.

Abrams told Mediaite “Keith Olbermann certainly deserves enormous credit for helping MSNBC overtake CNN in the ratings. While I am sure this was a difficult decision, with Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell leading the prime time schedule, I predict that MSNBC will continue to thrive.”

Olbermanns’ relationship with MSNBC, however, had seriously begun to sour in the last year. In fact, just last fall Olbermann was notoriously suspended for breaking MSNBC’s rules in donating funds to various political campaigns. The post-suspension news revealed that the specific relationship between Olbermann and MSNBC President Phil Griffin was particularly strained. Which leads us to tonight.

As many have already noted, the FCC finally approved the sale of the majority of NBC-Universal from GE to Comcast. Today was Jeff Zucker’s last day at the helm, having sent a memo bidding adieu to his staff. Sources close to the situation have told Mediaite that there is no question that Comcast had expressed concerns about Olbermann. Hardly surprising since even last July Olbermann famously claimed via Twittter that Comcast wanted “MSNBC to go more liberal.” The public flaunting of the future bosses could not have sat well with the new management, who seemed to have seen the red flags from the beginning.

The virtual war in which Olbermann was engaged with his bosses at MSNBC and NBC News could not have been something that Comcast wanted a part of. And while thus far there is no specific evidence that Comcast had a direct hand in this development there is almost no question that Comcast provided some sort of support to NBC to end Olbermann’s contract, an action that Jeff Zucker might not have supported.

Dan Abrams, keith olbermann, msnbc, NBC News, Phil Griffin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0 SuperChuñdy

I, for one, welcome our new media overlords, Kabletown!
huntingtonboy

What a shame
ChinaCat

Great news.
WCinWI

Why in the world would a socialist be placed ahead of Eddie?
Arkansas Steve

So far Comcast, your record is WINS=1, LOSSES=0.
Keep this up with a string of wins and you’ll do just fine.

May I respectfully suggest the following:

(1) Get rid of Ed Schultz. Tell him to compete against Rush Limbaugh on the radio. He’s not evil (like Keith was) but he is a blowhard & nobody takes him seriously.

(2) Keep Lawrence O’Donnell. He is VERY VERY far left, but he’s polite and can actually talk to conservatives & moderates quite well. Move him up an hour against Hannity.

(3) Move Rachel Maddow, for now, up an hour against Bill O’Reilly. She needs to learn she’s not half as smart as she thinks she is. Also, you are never going to beat O’reilly, so don’t waste too much energy trying. Maybe Rachel could grow up a little against Bill.

(4) Now about Chris (Tingles) Matthews. There are several options for Chris. If it were my choice, I’d just dump his ass. He’ll probably land in CNN’s world on his way to obscurity. Chris has been around way too long & is no better now than when he started. In fact he’s worse.

(5) There are several men & women, some working at MSNBC now, who could easily replace Keith & Ed & Chris.
If you need specific suggestions, get my email from Mediaite or respond here.

Best wishes.
tatboy

MSNBC… now with less Nazi references.
felixw

Here are some useful facts. This link provides a list of the political donations by the CEO and Chairman of Comcast. As you can see, about 90% of the money he donates to campaigns goes to Democrats. So you can’t say that the new owner isn’t sympathetic to leftwing causes.

http://www.newsmeat.com/ceo_political_donations/Brian_Roberts.php

The real issue here isn’t Olbermann’s politics, but his crass and embarrassing way of arguing for his views. In fact he doesn’t argue, he just smears, rants, insults, rages, denounces, whines and ridicules. They had to get rid of him, because he made MSNBC look bad and he made the Democrats look bad.
gjp

Mr Ed must be shaking in his shorts.
WCinWI

Arkansas Steve said:
So far Comcast, your record is WINS=1, LOSSES=0.
Keep this up with a string of wins and you’ll do just fine.

May I respectfully suggest the following:

(1) Get rid of Ed Schultz. Tell him to compete against Rush Limbaugh on the radio. He’s not evil (like Keith was) but he is a blowhard & nobody takes him seriously.

(2) Keep Lawrence O’Donnell. He is VERY VERY far left, but he’s polite and can actually talk to conservatives & moderates quite well. Move him up an hour against Hannity.

(3) Move Rachel Maddow, for now, up an hour against Bill O’Reilly. She needs to learn she’s not half as smart as she thinks she is. Also, you are never going to beat O’reilly, so don’t waste too much energy trying. Maybe Rachel could grow up a little against Bill.

(4) Now about Chris (Tingles) Matthews. There are several options for Chris. If it were my choice, I’d just dump his ass. He’ll probably land in CNN’s world on his way to obscurity. Chris has been around way too long & is no better now than when he started. In fact he’s worse.

(5) There are several men & women, some working at MSNBC now, who could easily replace Keith & Ed & Chris.
If you need specific suggestions, get my email from Mediaite or respond here.

Best wishes.

I think Larry needs to go too. Larry’s been known to outburst (on Morning Joe) and should just be a commenter on Huff Po.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0 SuperChuñdy

Arkansas Steve said:
(3) Move Rachel Maddow, for now, up an hour against Bill O’Reilly. She needs to learn she’s not half as smart as she thinks she is.

Rachel Maddow = Rhodes Scholar

(Also, why would you mention that you’re from Arkansas in your screen name?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0 SuperChuñdy

gjp said:
Mr Ed must be shaking in his shorts.

Gjp, why are you imagining Ed Schultz in his shorts?
Pablo

Si, se puede!
OxyCon

This ain’t the last move by far at MessNBC.
This is just the beginning.
MessNBC has caused serious damage to the credibility of NBC News because of it’s catering to the 19% fringe leftists.
Comcast is going to lay down the law to the rest of the crazies at MessNBC, and if they don’t clean up their acts and start behaving like professionals, then it’s “contract terminated” time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0 SuperChuñdy

OxyCon said:
MessNBC.

MessNBC wocka, wocka, wocka!

MessNBC (aka PMSNBC) should be more like FOX: don’t tolerate surly on-air behavior, but do tolerate sexual harassment.
OxyCon

SuperChuñdy said:
MessNBC wocka, wocka, wocka!
>.

Lol
X-3

Who cares what poor jerk replaces Olbermann; no one’s going to be watching them anyway.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

You can’t have a show filled with LIES every night.
OxyCon

Lean Forward!
http://tinyurl.com/4mlxmvc
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Stratton/1324460024 Joseph Stratton

To suggest that Olbermann’s firing had nothing to do with Comcast is completely naive. All Comcast had to do was view his pitiful coverage of the midterm elections and last week’s deplorable interview with the Tuscon sheriff to whom he called “a hero” and it was game over. It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.
zombietimeshare

Good bye and good riddance to Oldbitteman.
Yoda002

gordonbloyershow said:
You can’t have a show filled with LIES every night.

It’s called Faux!!!
Morgan

Colby Hall wrote:> And while there are many at MSNBC who are also responsible in righting a then sinking ship….

It would be more accurate to have written it:

And while there are many at MSNBC who are also responsible in righting a then sinking raft….
Reality Bites

This is indeed a sad day for Mediaite.

Without Olbermann there will be far less to post in order to bait its loyal children who sit here hour after hour pissing in the sandbox (you can see some of those familiar clowns are already directly above this post.)

Maybe Mediaite will finally clean up enough to make this site a worthwhile place for the normal, reasonably intelligent person to visit, read & story & maybe even make a legitimate comment.
iowaman

gordonbloyershow said:
You can’t have a show filled with LIES every night.

Are you effing nuts?!! You applaud an entire NETWORK that does that 24/7.
Arkansas Steve

SuperChuñdy said:
Rachel Maddow = Rhodes Scholar (Also, why would you mention that you’re from Arkansas in your screen name?)

I think you’re confusing smart vs. intellligent. Rachel is plenty intelligent. But when compared to Bill O’Reilly she isn’t smart enough to compete.
jrcmi

“The real issue here isn’t Olbermann’s politics, but his crass and embarrassing way of arguing for his views. In fact he doesn’t argue, he just smears, rants, insults, rages, denounces, whines and ridicules.”

Funny how you don’t accuse him of LYING . . . because you CAN’T.

I suppose O’Reilly uses the term “pinhead” because he read it in a book of etiquette? Beck dreams of killing Michael Moore because he just loves the guy to . . . death? Right-wingers can be awfully myopic when it comes to the many sins of their own kind.

“Gjp, why are you imagining Ed Schultz in his shorts?”

Maybe he wants to BE in Ed’s shorts.

“catering to the 19% fringe leftists.”

Proof? cite?

gordimbulb: “You can’t have a show filled with LIES every night.”

Seems to work for YOU . . . or maybe not.

“To suggest that Olbermann’s firing had nothing to do with Comcast is completely naive. ”

To suggest it was a FIRING is completely WRONG – and typical of a right wing so aggressively ignorant it is incapable of comprehending – or accepting – facts. Neither the network not KO is calling it a firing.

“children who sit here hour after hour pissing in the sandbox (you can see some of those familiar clowns . . . ”

Another comment from the “angry left”?

“Rachel is plenty intelligent. But when compared to Bill O’Reilly she isn’t smart enough to compete.”

She isn’t craven enough to LIE.
poolviking

It’s truly fun to watch so much commentary coming from the detractors on the right showing such glee over this news. As when Palins hit list made the front page, I do believe Olbermann had a particular talent for hitting a raw nerve for the marching morons to the right.
LONG LIVE KEITH !!!!!
PS : I hope they put him on fox “news”. Seems the foxies love being scared crapless by “gay terrorists commie nazi zombies” won’t somebody just think of the ratings he would generate.
Puter Boi

Dan Abrams is a good man…….and has some great ties.,
felixw

jrcmi said:
“The real issue here isn’t Olbermann’s politics, but his crass and embarrassing way of arguing for his views. In fact he doesn’t argue, he just smears, rants, insults, rages, denounces, whines and ridicules.”

Funny how you don’t accuse him of LYING . . . because you CAN’T.

You’re at least right in this regard, when someone never states facts and just deals in abuse, it’s hard to accuse them of lying.

So Olbermann isn’t actually lying, when he said of Hilary Clinton: “Somebody who can take her into a room and only he comes out.” But that kind of language is far worse than a lie.

So Olbermann isn’t presenting facts at all, when he said of Michelle Malkin: “She received death threats and hate-filled voice mails all thanks to the total mindless, morally bankrupt, knee-jerk, fascistic hatred, without which Michelle Malkin would just be a big mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it.” But that kind of language is far worse than a lie.

The same is true of Olbermann’s commentary on Scott Brown “in Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees.” But that kind of language is far worse than a lie.

As I said in my original comment: “The real issue here isn’t Olbermann’s politics, but his crass and embarrassing way of arguing for his views. In fact he doesn’t argue, he just smears, rants, insults, rages, denounces, whines and ridicules.” I stand by that.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Vic-Livingston/100000996034144 Vic Livingston

No connection to the Comcast takeover — that’s like saying, “pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.” This public takedown telegraphs what’s to come for any mainstream media type that fails to tow the line. And, predictably, many of Keith’s colleagues are buying the slander that this is about his “mercurial personality” and not about a purge of American society engineered by dark forces among the power elite:
http://nowpublic.com/world/rule-law-morality-die-usa-fusion-center-slow-kill-genocide
Dem4Ever

Olbermann’s picture looks like a monkey at the zoo smelling his finger after sticking it up his butt. Olbey want a banana?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Templeton/1642703797 Dave Templeton

And yesterday’s “Worst Person in the World” is gone like the wicked witch from Hezbollah, Helen Thomas!
notsofast

jrcmi said:
Funny how you don’t accuse him of LYING . . . because you CAN’T.

LMAO!

man, are you an ignoramus!
Grammie

Vic Livingston said:
http://nowpublic.com/world/rule-law-morality-die-usa-fusion-center-slow-kill-genocide

.
It appears a tin foil hat is required to access that site.

Mine is in the cleaners so I was wondering if I could borrow one of yours.
Realpan

So, from now on the Fox “News” herd won’t have the “Olbermann excuse”?
Meaning that everytime someone points out Beck or any of the other extremists, they just cried “what about Olbermann?”
CAconservative

With dozens of hard news stories worthy of discussion, why are we discussing this clown?