Current TV Dismisses Keith Olbermann

[Dok]

Current TV Dismisses Keith Olbermann

Current TV said Friday afternoon that it had terminated the contract of its lead anchor Keith Olbermann, scarcely one year after he was hired to reboot the fledgling channel in his progressive political image.

Mr. Olbermann did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Current indicated that he had failed to honor the terms of his five-year, $50 million contract, giving the channel the right to terminate it.

In a letter to viewers, the channel said Friday, “We created Current to give voice to those Americans who refuse to rely on corporate-controlled media and are seeking an authentic progressive outlet.  We are more committed to those goals today than ever before. Current was also founded on the values of respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers.   Unfortunately these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann and we have ended it.”

Mr. Olbermann will not be given an opportunity to sign off. Starting Friday night, the former New York governor Eliot Spitzer will replace him at 8 p.m., according to the letter to viewers. His program will be titled “Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer.”

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/current-tv-dismisses-keith-olbermann/

 

[America2]

Even the football shows don't want him anymore.

[PeaceAndFreedom]

Perhaps he was peeved that after successfully serving as an anchor to get people to actually care about the Gore network, he was passed over by the Young Turks in terms of viewer attention.

[donnay]

That's a shame...Keith should have gotten on the right side of history and joined us!

[Kilika]

"We" don't pay enough!

That slug is all about the money, and we can see how that attitude has served him! What a loser. Maybe he can get a job as ring announcer for women's wrestling, maybe.

[Dok]

Maybe he can get a job as ring announcer for women's wrestling, maybe.

  wouldnt that be an award? 

[Dok]

Keith Olbermann Threatens Suit Over Current TV Firing

Keith Olbermann has threatened to sue Current TV after the controversial host was fired from his primetime slot less than a year after he joined the network.

Former Vice President Al Gore, the co-founder of Current TV, said in a statement that the network was founded on "values of respect, openness, collegiality and loyalty to our viewers. Unfortunately these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann."

Not one to go down without a fight, Olbermann fired back on Twitter, writing that the accusations were "untrue and will be proved so in the legal actions I will be filing against them presently."

Gore's stark language in severing ties with Olbermann less than a year after the dream deal stunned media observers.

"It's surprising to watch Al Gore, who swore he knew how to handle Keith Olbermann, essentially throw in the towel and say he and Current TV don't line up anymore," Brian Stelter, a New York Times media writer, told ABC News.

The former host of "Countdown" on MSNBC, who was reportedly being paid $50 million for five years, was immediately replaced by former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who took over the 8 p.m. slot with a show called "Viewpoint."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/keith-olbermann-threatens-suit-over-current-tv-firing-163755336--abc-news-topstories.html