“I was not given a legitimate opportunity to host under acceptable conditions,” Olbermann said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday. “They know it and we know it. Telling half the story is wrong.”
Here's the full article in the Reporter. And here's one of its most interesting facts:
Countdown is the highest-rated show on Current by far. On Dec. 15, the program averaged 52,000 viewers among news’ target demographic of viewers ages 25-54. The network’s two-hour post-Iowa GOP debate analysis on the same night had 4,000 viewers in the demo, while the 2 a.m. rebroadcast of Countdown pulled in 11,000.
Only 52,000 viewers? And it's the highest-rated show on Current "by far"?
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Mar '11
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Olbie didn't host because, like every other place he's worked, he's wearing out his welcome. The man was banned from ESPN's campus for a reason.
Dec '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Ahhh..the Olbermonkey is finally hitting the low level he so richly deserves.
Jul '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Sounds like the Current is clogged.
Or is it new low-flow regulations?
Mar '11
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
I've watched this show a few times.
What can I say? Weapons-grade stoopid gives me the giggles.
But Keef better be careful...he's running out of rich boobs who don't hate him.
Dec '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
I think Current is little more than a scam to get investors to pay for programming they like to see (or think that others will see). I think they had no illusions that it would ever make money, at least the smart ones.
But put this in perspective. At 9pm, Maddow gets 180,000 and Hannity gets 340,000. (0.8 million and 1.3 million, respectively in the overall viewers category -- I doubt Olbermann does very well outside the demos).
But follow me on this: Olbermann is the star on Current. He IS Current. Why wouldn't they bend over backwards for him? They signed him to a big contract, they're stuck with him. As long as he doesn't demand they spend more money, they should do whatever he says.
So why aren't they?
Aug '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
According to the article, Current offered Olbermann the anchor job for covering Iowa. He declined, so they pre-empted his show. Now he's mad. Well...he could have had the hour, but he'd have had to cover the news rather than merely rant.
Aug '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
According to CBS, Olbermann makes $10 million a year for those 52,000 viewers. Oh...and he's got equity in the company. WOW!
That means he's paid more per year than Evan Longoria. I think Longoria has more than 52,000 fans. He's only one of the main reasons the Rays can compete regularly against the Yankees.
May '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
No one really knows what Current's ratings actually are since they don't subscribe to the Nielsen service. You don't pay, Nielsen don't count. That's expected to change this month. But according to the NY Times Media Decoder blog:
Nov '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Current what?
Dec '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
EJHill: No one really knows what Current's ratings actually are since they don't subscribe to the Nielsen service. You don't pay, Nielsen don't count. That's expected to change this month. But according to the NY Times Media Decoder blog:
Jan 4 at 7:11pm
EJ, doesn't Olberman sound like the ideal employee. Overbearing and obnoxious, this guy has little talent other then to be obsessively left wing. It shows how media is lousy with lefty sychophants who so need to hear this clown bellow that they can't see he is walking all over them and killing the show.
Between the Olbermonkey and Rachel Madcow it just doesn't get any worse.
Sep '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
AmishDude: But follow me on this: Olbermann is the star on Current. He IS Current. Why wouldn't they bend over backwards for him? They signed him to a big contract, they're stuck with him. As long as he doesn't demand they spend more money, they should do whatever he says.
So why aren't they? · Jan 4 at 6:58pm
Just a conjecture: even lefty-liberal producers can take only so much incompetence coupled with sneering contempt from their "star". As with Charlie Sheen, there comes a point where everyone decides they'd rather lose millions than put up with this jerk.
Edited on Jan 4 at 7:58pmApr '11
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
EJHill: No one really knows what Current's ratings actually are...(fill in your own end to that sentence challenge...)
Jan 4 at 7:11pm
...because like all quantum measurements the very act of measuring them will change their behavior.
...because their audience is so small Nielsen's statistic software always rounds it down to zero.
...because the raters can't seem to figure out what channel number for the station is.
come give it a try its fun...
Sep '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
From thewrap.com:
Rift Between Olbermann and Current TV Deepens: 'Everybody Is Replaceable'
Apr '11
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Who is Keith Olbermann?
Jul '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Ah, the pungent smell of burning bridges.
Apr '11
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Last February Pat & Stu from the Glenn Beck program quoted a story from the Hollywood Reporter that said Current TV averaged 18,000 viewers in primetime during the 4th quarter of 2010, "lower than any other network sampled by Nielsen." I don't know where HR got its numbers if Nielsen didn't provide them, but assuming they're close to being correct, Olbermann has been a ratings juggernaut for Current, nearly tripling their viewers (to a very low level).
May '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Good grief. Olbermann is a real life Ron Burgundy!
Jul '11
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Olbermann's self-immolation is highly entertaining.
May '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
Olbermann is not without talent. He and Dan Patrick turned SportsCenter into a brand for ESPN. Their snarky stamp, for better or worse, still looms large at the network's signature program. There is even an edict to refrain from cutesy headlines and snarky comments on game telecasts because that's reserved for SC.
I will refrain from any amateur psychiatry but Olby obviously has "issues." He has flamed out at ESPN, Fox, MSNBC (twice), NBC and is on the ropes at Current. God knows, if Joel Hyatt and Al Gore can't save him, he is unsalvageable.
Television is too collaborative. He needs to find something he can do without the need to rely on others to pull it off.
Jun '10
Re: Why Keith Olbermann Didn't Appear on Current TV's Iowa Coverage
So much anger--so few to offend.