Al Gore and MSNBC get in shoving match after Keith Olbermann's move to Current TV

[ProudToBeLiberal]

Al Gore, the Nobel laureate beloved by many liberals for his passionate espousal of environmental causes, has gotten into a dust-up — with MSNBC, the cable-TV home of liberal opinion.

The fracas started Tuesday after Gore and other officials of Current TV, the network founded in 2005, announced they had nabbed former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann to lead a new nightly program starting later this spring. Olbermann will also become chief news officer of the low-rated Current, which has about 60 million subscribers in the U.S.

Hinting at the potential Current has despite its low viewership, the former vice president declared during a phone call with reporters, "We have more subscribers today than MSNBC had when Keith Olbermann began working for them" in 2003.

MSNBC, whose management had clashed repeatedly with Olbermann prior to his exit, cried foul, with a spokesman citing Nielsen Co. data that shows MSNBC had 78.4 million subscribers in 2003.

More at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/02/al-gore-and-msnbc-get-in-shoving-match-after-keith-olbermanns-move-to-current-tv.html

[Ozymanithrax]

1. The day Olberman comes on, I will subscribe to Current...

I would do it sooner, but I want my subscription to say, this was for KO.

[RKP5637]

3. +1, n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I went today, since I have to connect the pesky box

and they also got Nat Geo and the Science channel on the Variety package.

[abelenkpe]

7. great idea

Think I'll do the same. :)

[hlthe2b]

2. A bit of verbal sparring between spokespeople...

that is what equates to a "shoving match" today? :rofl:

[RKP5637]

5. Yeah, it's like saying mine is bigger than yours or something like that!

:rofl:

[Uzybone]

8. actually its an evisceration

the hyperbole knows no bounds.

[RufusTFirefly]

12. "Hyperbole is literally destroying America"

One of many amusing signs at the Stewart/Colbert rally in D.C. last year.

The barrier between "conventional media" and the tabloids is tissue-thin these days.

[fishwax]

15. hehe

Funny sign :)

[Marie Marie]

22. Oh come on - that photo is an obvious fake.

The Dick's face looks way too youthful and healthy to not have been airbrushed or even photo-shopped. Otherwise, looks spot on.

[Oceansaway]

6. screw MSNBC.....nt

[foxfeet]

9. MSNBC doesn't have to get snippy about it.

[Z_I_Peevey]

21. Bwah!

Nice callback.

[murray hill farm]

10. Seems to me....

everybody getting scared!!!! The potential here may be way bigger than any of us knew. Love it!

[NotThisTime]

17. I agree with you, he has free reign to create a news organization geared towards us for once

[YvonneCa]

26. You hit the nail on the head...

...exactly. And I think they have reason to be afraid. ;)

[Dappleganger]

11. There's always someone bigger than you who's a bully...

and someone smaller than you to take it out on. Guess they're figuring out the pecking order.

[Amonester]

13. Ok then. I want Rachel to 'move' away from NBC inc.

And join Current ASAP.

[NotThisTime]

18. One problem? NBC pays better... this will be a problem until some viewers are pulled in I think

[pacalo]

20. I have until Spring to get CurrentTV either through Cox or by switching to

DirecTV or DishTV. Then I'll be fine with Rachel joining Keith. Lots of possibilities for top-notch hires: David Shuster, Phil Donahue, & Catherine Crier are a few off the top of my head.

[csziggy]

29. With DirecTV I get Current (ch.358), Link TV (ch. 375) and FSTV (ch. 348)

Not sure what DISH carries right now. When I changed from DISH, they only had FSTV, but it's been three years.

[bdamomma]

14. I have a question

there are a few of us who live outside of the US, will we be able to watch Keith on line?

[JI7]

16. what do they care, didn't they want to get rid of Keith

[murray hill farm]

19. But they wanted him to go away!

Not compete! And certainly not take his viewers with him. And most certainly not be better than ever without the MSNBC restraints.

[YvonneCa]

27. Exactly. n/t

[white_wolf]

24. Yes but, he was supposed to "go quietly into the Long Night"

not get a new job. The nerve of him! :sarcasm:

[monmouth]

32. It's similar to "I don't want you but I don't want anyone else to have you either...n/t

[Tx4obama]

23. K & R n/t

[TheOther95Percent]

25. I just used the site's channel finder to find it on my cable site.

Going to make it one of my favorites. The only thing keeping the cable on in this house was MSNBC with Keith and Masterpiece Theater. Now, it's Current TV and Masterpiece Theater.

[Zax2me]

28. Good grief...!

Such drama.

[nolabear]

30. Things are looking up. Nothing like a Spring Fracas to get the sap running.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[Enthusiast]

31. I will watch Keith on his first day.

And I hope Current will hire Ed and Rachel after MSNBC goes in the tank.

[slay]

33. Wonder if MSNBC realizes how badly they fucked up yet?

or do they - as COMCAST - just say screw it - it's worth the loss in $$$ Keith brings in to have his voice silenced? That's what I think it is - COMCAST wanted to buy his silence - at least pay to keep his opinions off THEIR right-wing empire.

"Oh but Keith quit." - COMCAST/NBC could have - should have - given him more freedom/control to tell the truth. They might as well have pushed him out the door. If they had had any balls or integrity they would have had him hosting the NBC Nightly News and been thankful to have him! They only care about profits though - that is as long as their empire, power, and control goes unchallenged.

Can't wait to see what he'll do on Current TV!

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2007/12/conspiracy-Theory-Rock-416809 <-- Truth about GE/NBC from SNL: Conspiracy Theory Rock



*edited for clarity