Boards > Current Events > Countdown ENDS...

ink_addicted

Stillwater, MN

December 2009

JAN 21, 2011 07:45 PM

Keith Olbermann signs off for the last time tonight.

Farewell

The timing is very suspicious, as the buyout of NBC by Comcast was just approved.

Coyotemike

USA

May 2006

JAN 21, 2011 07:57 PM

Two threads, neither with a usable link.

NPR

MSNBC host Keith Olbermann announced Friday that he is leaving the network and has taped his last Countdown show.

MSNBC issued a statement that it had ended its contract with the controversial host, with no further explanation. Olbermann hosted the network's most popular show, but his combative liberal opinions often made him a target of critics.

Olbermann did not explain why he was leaving.

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK

August 2002

JAN 21, 2011 08:48 PM

eyelikeglasses

Gainesville, FL

February 2008

JAN 21, 2011 09:11 PM

Rafi

Santa Monica, CA

January 2003

JAN 21, 2011 09:39 PM

Keith said:

Low hanging fruit, but still phenomenal.

stockula

Anchorage, AK

May 2003

JAN 21, 2011 09:53 PM

I feel sorry for his viewer.

ckdexterhaven

USA

December 2005

JAN 21, 2011 11:56 PM

Called it.

TheFuckOffKid

NEWSWIRE

Australia

JAN 21, 2011 11:58 PM

stockula said:
I feel sorry for his viewer.

That's almost funny.

ikcsmiley

Asheville, NC

July 2003

JAN 22, 2011 12:17 AM

TheFuckOffKid said:

stockula said:
I feel sorry for his viewer.

That's almost funny.

Back to reality, Countdown was MSNBC's highest rated show (average the 1.1 million viewers per show this week), so this decision was based on factors other than $$$.

ckdexterhaven

USA

December 2005

JAN 22, 2011 12:45 AM

IKCSmiley said:

TheFuckOffKid said:

stockula said:
I feel sorry for his viewer.

That's almost funny.

Back to reality, Countdown was MSNBC's highest rated show (average the 1.1 million viewers per show this week), so this decision was based on factors other than $$$.

I'd say it probably isn't just a coincidence that this happened right after the Comcast/NBC merger was approved.

Letranger

Brooklyn, NY

September 2005

JAN 22, 2011 08:11 AM

ckdexterhaven said:

IKCSmiley said:

TheFuckOffKid said:

stockula said:
I feel sorry for his viewer.

That's almost funny.

Back to reality, Countdown was MSNBC's highest rated show (average the 1.1 million viewers per show this week), so this decision was based on factors other than $$$.

I'd say it probably isn't just a coincidence that this happened right after the Comcast/NBC merger was approved.

I agree. i wonder also if the slant at MSNBC will shift a bit more to the right over the next few months/years.

I have a personal bias against Comcast since I work for a stock photo agency and Comcast consistently blocks their users from accessing and downloading images from our site, presumably to save on bandwidth.

That said, mergers and the consolidation of wealth and power in corporate America is rarely a good thing, especially in media.

ink_addicted

Stillwater, MN

December 2009

JAN 22, 2011 10:00 AM

LEtranger said:

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

I agree. i wonder also if the slant at MSNBC will shift a bit more to the right over the next few months/years.

I have a personal bias against Comcast since I work for a stock photo agency and Comcast consistently blocks their users from accessing and downloading images from our site, presumably to save on bandwidth.

That said, mergers and the consolidation of wealth and power in corporate America is rarely a good thing, especially in media.

I'm afraid this signals the end of the last liberal media outlet on TV. Buy out and crush those you do not agree with, works every time.

If I was a betting man, my money would be on Keith leaving because he didn't want more editorial constraints, that this new regime would bring.

stockula

Anchorage, AK

May 2003

JAN 22, 2011 10:38 AM

hah, Glenn Beck figured this was going to happen 2 months ago.

“If I may make a prediction, they are going to make this into a talking point, a regular talking point. You are going to hear the liberals come out and start to throw MSNBC under the bus, and throw them under the bus hard, and here’s why, MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business. If it remains liberal, it will just be a good liberal station. It will just run things that will actually get ratings. If it’s not, it will most likely just be a news channel, or I mean, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it, but it won’t feature Keith Olbermann and they know that.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/beck-comcast-msnbc

r00kers

Nederland, CO

February 2003

JAN 22, 2011 11:01 AM

A much better version:

Hautaan asti humppaan

OhSoOrdinary

New York, NY

July 2006

JAN 22, 2011 11:25 AM

stockula said:
hah, Glenn Beck figured this was going to happen 2 months ago.

“If I may make a prediction, they are going to make this into a talking point, a regular talking point. You are going to hear the liberals come out and start to throw MSNBC under the bus, and throw them under the bus hard, and here’s why, MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business. If it remains liberal, it will just be a good liberal station. It will just run things that will actually get ratings. If it’s not, it will most likely just be a news channel, or I mean, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it, but it won’t feature Keith Olbermann and they know that.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/beck-comcast-msnbc

OhSoOrdinary said:

A knowledgeable official said the move had nothing to do with Comcast taking control of NBC next week, although the cable giant was informed when it received final federal approval for the purchase that Olbermann would be leaving the cable channel. This official described the dramatic divorce—Olbermann was about halfway through a four-year, $30 million contract—as mutual.

Linky

Rafi

Santa Monica, CA

January 2003

JAN 22, 2011 12:13 PM

stockula said:
hah, Glenn Beck figured this was going to happen 2 months ago.

“If I may make a prediction, they are going to make this into a talking point, a regular talking point. You are going to hear the liberals come out and start to throw MSNBC under the bus, and throw them under the bus hard, and here’s why, MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business. If it remains liberal, it will just be a good liberal station. It will just run things that will actually get ratings. If it’s not, it will most likely just be a news channel, or I mean, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it, but it won’t feature Keith Olbermann and they know that.

So for Comcast, running a television network "like a business" means not retaining your single highest rated program? Good to know.

PointBlank

New York, NY

November 2004

JAN 22, 2011 12:25 PM

Rafi said:

stockula said:
hah, Glenn Beck figured this was going to happen 2 months ago.

“If I may make a prediction, they are going to make this into a talking point, a regular talking point. You are going to hear the liberals come out and start to throw MSNBC under the bus, and throw them under the bus hard, and here’s why, MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business. If it remains liberal, it will just be a good liberal station. It will just run things that will actually get ratings. If it’s not, it will most likely just be a news channel, or I mean, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it, but it won’t feature Keith Olbermann and they know that.

So for Comcast, running a television network "like a business" means not retaining your single highest rated program? Good to know.

Highest rated program on that one network. I'm guessing it's one of the lower-rated in the NBC/Universal package.

I doubt it's a coincidence that this came out around the same time as the merger, but I'm not sure if this is coming from Comcast or Olbermann himself. He's been having problems with his bosses for a while now and announcing this at this moment causes them maximum embarrassment.

Personally, I think the guy is a douche and I'm not too upset that he's gone.

Coyotemike

USA

May 2006

JAN 22, 2011 02:33 PM

PointBlank said:

Rafi said:

stockula said:
hah, Glenn Beck figured this was going to happen 2 months ago.

“If I may make a prediction, they are going to make this into a talking point, a regular talking point. You are going to hear the liberals come out and start to throw MSNBC under the bus, and throw them under the bus hard, and here’s why, MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business. If it remains liberal, it will just be a good liberal station. It will just run things that will actually get ratings. If it’s not, it will most likely just be a news channel, or I mean, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it, but it won’t feature Keith Olbermann and they know that.

So for Comcast, running a television network "like a business" means not retaining your single highest rated program? Good to know.

Highest rated program on that one network. I'm guessing it's one of the lower-rated in the NBC/Universal package.

I doubt it's a coincidence that this came out around the same time as the merger, but I'm not sure if this is coming from Comcast or Olbermann himself. He's been having problems with his bosses for a while now and announcing this at this moment causes them maximum embarrassment.

Personally, I think the guy is a douche and I'm not too upset that he's gone.

From what he said, and taking that with a grain of salt, he was told that last night would be his last show.

SergeantPsycho

USA

January 2007

JAN 22, 2011 04:14 PM

PointBlank said:

Rafi said:

stockula said:
hah, Glenn Beck figured this was going to happen 2 months ago.

“If I may make a prediction, they are going to make this into a talking point, a regular talking point. You are going to hear the liberals come out and start to throw MSNBC under the bus, and throw them under the bus hard, and here’s why, MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business. If it remains liberal, it will just be a good liberal station. It will just run things that will actually get ratings. If it’s not, it will most likely just be a news channel, or I mean, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it, but it won’t feature Keith Olbermann and they know that.

So for Comcast, running a television network "like a business" means not retaining your single highest rated program? Good to know.

Highest rated program on that one network. I'm guessing it's one of the lower-rated in the NBC/Universal package.

I doubt it's a coincidence that this came out around the same time as the merger, but I'm not sure if this is coming from Comcast or Olbermann himself. He's been having problems with his bosses for a while now and announcing this at this moment causes them maximum embarrassment.

Personally, I think the guy is a douche and I'm not too upset that he's gone.

Also, maybe Comcast figured there was a bigger market for Conservatives than there was for Liberals. Who knows, they maybe right.

C2RockSLC

USA

October 2009

JAN 22, 2011 05:27 PM

I was surprised and saddened as I watched Countdown last night and he announced this. He's always been one of my favorites (along with Rachel Maddow).

And as most of you have already mentioned, very suspicious timing. **sigh**

Coyotemike

USA

May 2006

JAN 22, 2011 05:32 PM

Kinda hoping for a Monday Morning expose on this.

Cockzombie

San Diego, CA

July 2006

JAN 22, 2011 06:23 PM

Coyotemike said:
Kinda hoping for a Monday Morning expose on this.

+1

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

JAN 22, 2011 06:37 PM

Rafi said:

stockula said:
hah, Glenn Beck figured this was going to happen 2 months ago.

“If I may make a prediction, they are going to make this into a talking point, a regular talking point. You are going to hear the liberals come out and start to throw MSNBC under the bus, and throw them under the bus hard, and here’s why, MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business. If it remains liberal, it will just be a good liberal station. It will just run things that will actually get ratings. If it’s not, it will most likely just be a news channel, or I mean, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it, but it won’t feature Keith Olbermann and they know that.

So for Comcast, running a television network "like a business" means not retaining your single highest rated program? Good to know.

ha

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

JAN 22, 2011 06:39 PM

I haven't watched the show in ages but I'm not surprised. He was clearly having problems there.

Liberals mostly get their news from the internet anyway. Conservatives mostly get their news from Fox and AM radios.

No big. He's already been replaced by Turk, a guy who might be even more to the left, so the celebrating by conservatives is, simply, moronic.

OhSoOrdinary

New York, NY

July 2006

JAN 23, 2011 02:45 AM

FearTheReaper said:
No big. He's already been replaced by Turk, a guy who might be even more to the left and has even worse screen presence, so the celebrating by conservatives is, simply, moronic.

Fixed.

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Stillwater, MN

December 2009

JAN 21, 2011 07:45 PM

USA

May 2006

JAN 21, 2011 07:57 PM

Oklahoma City, OK

August 2002

JAN 21, 2011 08:48 PM

Gainesville, FL

February 2008

JAN 21, 2011 09:11 PM

Santa Monica, CA

January 2003

JAN 21, 2011 09:39 PM

Anchorage, AK

May 2003

JAN 21, 2011 09:53 PM

USA

December 2005

JAN 21, 2011 11:56 PM

NEWSWIRE

Australia

JAN 21, 2011 11:58 PM

Asheville, NC

July 2003

JAN 22, 2011 12:17 AM

USA

December 2005

JAN 22, 2011 12:45 AM

Brooklyn, NY

September 2005

JAN 22, 2011 08:11 AM

Stillwater, MN

December 2009

JAN 22, 2011 10:00 AM

Anchorage, AK

May 2003

JAN 22, 2011 10:38 AM

Nederland, CO

February 2003

JAN 22, 2011 11:01 AM

New York, NY

July 2006

JAN 22, 2011 11:25 AM

Santa Monica, CA

January 2003

JAN 22, 2011 12:13 PM

New York, NY

November 2004

JAN 22, 2011 12:25 PM

USA

May 2006

JAN 22, 2011 02:33 PM

USA

January 2007

JAN 22, 2011 04:14 PM

USA

October 2009

JAN 22, 2011 05:27 PM

USA

May 2006

JAN 22, 2011 05:32 PM

San Diego, CA

July 2006

JAN 22, 2011 06:23 PM

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

JAN 22, 2011 06:37 PM

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

JAN 22, 2011 06:39 PM

New York, NY

July 2006

JAN 23, 2011 02:45 AM