MSNBC is going to Shuster Olbermann -- NYT

[grasswire]

"one term of his settlement will keep him from moving to another network for an extended period of time."

[Cleita]

1. I was afraid of that. Bummer! n/t

[genna]

2. Is this a Conan 9 month gag clause?

[babylonsister]

3. Link, pretty please? Thanks. Want to share. nt

[shireen]

10. here

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/olbermann-hosts-last-countdown-on-msnbc/?hp

[babylonsister]

11. Thanks! nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Define "network"

Webbased reporting isn't exactly "network".

Especially if he demanded a huge cancellation settlement - long enough to last him while he chills out at HuffPost or Comedy Central saying whatever the hell he feels like whenever the hell he feels like it.

This is our loss. Keith will be fine.

[elleng]

9. Thanks for this.

[hedgehog]

32. That's what I am thinking - that Olberman is going to turn up on the Web pretty soon.

[jillan]

5. Shit.

[fishwax]

6. it's not as though Keith was a passive participant in the Shustering

if he agreed to the settlement ...

[shireen]

7. he probably needs some well-earned rest.

Especially since the heartache of losing his father last year and having to report on one disappointment after another since Obama was elected. maybe he'll write a book.

Eventually, I'd love to see him come back to tv, perhaps partnering with Dan Rather and Aaron Brown.

[Lugnut]

28. I'm sure that losing his parents was a factor.

The personal emotional roller coaster he's been on for the past few years certainly took its toll. It's apparent to me that TPTB at MSNBC have also made things difficult for him because he won't conform.

I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop since his temporary suspension a few months ago. Keith is too independent to tow the company line and that doesn't fly in this day and age. When you're forced to eat too many shit sandwiches out the door is the only way to go if you want to be true to yourself.

I'm heartbroken about the whole situation. I'll miss Keith and Countdown but I think I know why this had to happen. :(

[elleng]

8. 'Settlement' suggests negotiating something(s).

2 years remaining on contract.

[Ruby the Liberal]

13. Yep - meaning they write a big check and he doesn't sue.

Especially if he forced this because he didn't want to work for the assholes.

Schuster was yanked. Keith had a chance to control the message. Signals a negotiation.

Still pisses me off that they are now putting Rachel BEHIND O'Donnell. If nothing else, she should have been first in line for the time slot.

[femmocrat]

12. This sux.

I hate Comcast.

[bullwinkle428]

14. What a horseshit deal, given that he didn't go out on his own terms.

:mad:

[coolhip33]

15. frick was hoping he would be on another network soon

[Major Hogwash]

16. He won't be allowed to go on tv, his own show, for over a year.

According to the Shuster on CNN, right now.
They "settled" his contract, but they are going to keep his voice on tv silent!

So, he needs to get back on the radio, as a regular guest, of Ed Schultz.
What the fuck, they can't keep all of us silent!!

[otohara]

17. Except - They'd Fire Ed

I expect Ed to go next - putting him on so late is a slap in the face.

[Major Hogwash]

19. Just on the radio for now, and then to webcasts, and then TO THE FUTURE!!

MSNBC is history, not Olbermann!!

[otohara]

20. Remember Phil Donahue

when was the last time you saw Phil Donahue, David Shuster, Ashley Banfield?

[Major Hogwash]

22. Yes, I do, I watched his program in February of 2003, with Scott Ritter and the UN nuclear

weapons program director of inspections, with Neal Boortz (of all people) discussing the need to invade Iraq.

I can't remember the UN's director for their nuclear weapons inspections programs name at the moment, however.
And there was a 4th guest on Phil's program that night, but I can't remember who he was because he was another rightwinger, who simply agreed with Boortz.

[otohara]

24. Since His Firing

I remember the nightmare of Iraq war lies very well

[jeff47]

21. 10pm is a better time slot than 6pm. (nt)

[otohara]

25. Primetime - 6PM to 10PM

Which time slot would you prefer, knowing you have to get up early the next day to do your 3 hour radio program?

Another trick in broadcasting to get rid of someone - make their life miserable and stressful.

Ed could easily do without MSNBC.

[jeff47]

26. I'd prefer the one with the most viewers, Which is 10pm. (nt)

[otohara]

27. Glenn Beck

is on a 5 PM - giving him plenty of viewers and plenty of hours to unwind, go to sleep, wake up and do his radio show at 9AM.

Ed now gets to work from 8AM to 10PM. Lucky him, or not!

Nope, this was designed to get Ed to quit. It will wear him out physically and mentally.

[jeff47]

29. You do realize it is possible to sleep sometime other than night, right?

Get your 8 hours of sleep 9AM to 5PM.

[otohara]

30. How Do You Figure

he'll sleep while he's doing his radio show?

Besides, there's also a thing called "preparation". even for the host. Yes, it's true, they come in early and leave late - unwinding from these high pressure, stressful jobs takes time and in some cases drugs/alcohol.

Recently Ed has said, he doesn't need the MSNBC gig - he has his radio show and after a few months of this grueling schedule, Ed, just might say "fuck this" and move back to the tundra in N. Dakota.

[jeff47]

31. 'Cause I don't know when his radio show is on?

Your previous post seemed to indicate it ended at 8.

As for prep time, it's really not that hard to fit sleep in while still having a few hours before either the TV or radio show, and he'd have a lot of time in the other window between the shows.

Anyway, the 10pm timeslot attracts more viewers on the east coast, and reportedly Ed's show does better on the west cost, where that 10pm shows at 7pm. A lot better than the 6pm slot showing at 3pm.

The assumption that there is no up-side for Ed is off.

[morningglory]

18. This is going to have a chilling effect on "pundits". Shame. nt

[Lady President]

23. The stricter the better for Keith

In general, courts don't like non-compete clauses. They prevent someone from earning a living and paying taxes which is contrary to public policy. The smaller the monetary settlement, the longer the period of time he has to be off the air, and perceived lack of power to negotiate the terms can work in his favor, if he decides to challenge it.

On the other hand, he might want to take a long break and/or stick to print media for awhile.