Interesting Take On KO's Firing...

[WillyT]

PERCEPTIONS ABOUT KEITH OLBERMANN’S DEPARTURE COULD HURT COMCAST
01/22/11-by L.S. Carbonel
Lezgetreal.com

<snip>

Do you remember variables? In mathematical and scientific formulas, they are the one thing that is changeable and which changes the formula’s outcome. Keith Olbermann’s fans are not knuckle-dragging Neanderthals, but educated, intelligent people. They are not looking under the bed or behind the curtain for some conspiracy to explain the decision at MSNBC to not renew Keith’s contract after 8 successful years. His fans are looking for variables – what changed recently that would explain this action?

The obvious variable is the imminent acquisition of NBC-Universal by Comcast. It’s right out there, getting news coverage, making headlines. And so, last night, Keith’s fans hit on the obvious variable and Comcast spent the night doing damage control.

Maybe Comcast is being honest. Maybe they had nothing to do with this decision. After all, it would be premature of them to interfere in scheduling decisions and contract negotiations when they don’t actually own the company yet. But the simple, clear logic of the variables is not going to convince Keith’s fans, especially since this dismissal was done the same way his suspension was, on Friday night when there is no one home to answer questions.

There is another variable. It is similar to having one variable in a formula that fills a blackboard. It’s subtle and insidious.

You need to go back to the outrage expressed on Countdown by Keith over his belief that Jon Stewart, in his speech during his rally, had drawn a moral equivalency between MSNBC and Fox News. Then, fast forward to Keith’s suspension and the way he dialed back a bit afterwards. Finally, there’s the full-blown retreat after the tragedy in Tucson. Keith took responsibility for perhaps being misunderstood when what he was striving for was satire, sarcasm and mockery. Perhaps some person out there had not gotten the joke.

But what happened on the right, as they tried to duck responsibility for their hate-mongering and violent imagery and outright calls to kill liberals may be the variable we should be looking for. The extremists claimed that Jared Lee Loughner is a “left-wing looney” who worked for “Obama’s best friend, Frances Priven” (Ms. Priven teaches at a New York City university, a place Loughner has never been), that the FBI has released files claiming Loughner watched – wait for it – Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Various Fox personalities have pointed their fingers at MSNBC and screamed “They are worse than we are!!!”

So, we are left with two choices of variables to explain last night’s shocking announcement – Comcast wanted him gone for some unknown reason or MSNBC decided to sacrifice him to remove any claim of moral equivalency with Fox News.

Either way, it was a bad decision.

<snip>

Link: http://lezgetreal.com/2011/01/perceptions-about-keith-olbermann%E2%80%99s-departure-could-hurt-comcast/

:kick:

[lame54]

1. When we had comcast we couldn't even get MSNBC...

But we could get Fox :puke:

[RKP5637]

3. Comcast is generally regarded as about the worst cable provider around. n/t

[otohara]

15. In Poor Markets - Comcast Won't Air C-Span

Like in Alabama, Mississippi

how fucked up is that?

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Who thought that your cable and internet supplier would be so rich?

To buy the media it supplied?

And have billions in reserve?

[RKP5637]

5. It's pretty clear all the laws about monopolies have gone out the window over

the years. Now we are all supposed to fall into line and STFU. Yep, a democracy, sure is ... that went out the window too.

[MessiahRp]

7. The problem is the monopoly laws are purposely set up in sketchy ways...

Cable companies buy up specific regions and negotiate to city wide exclusivity arrangements with the government's blessing.

The way they avoid the monopoly claim is by saying, "Well other regions have different cable options so it's not a United States-wide monopoly." They also claim Satellites are monopoly breakers as well even though a large portion of urban areas cannot use them as they are not allowed to be installed on most apartment or high rise buildings.

It's shady bullshit that they are allowed to get away with because our Governments, City, State AND Federal, are complicit in it.

Rp

[sufrommich]

4. I don't think Comcast had anything to do with it. I think Olbermann

and MSNBC were both tired of their relationship. I've yet to read anything that convinces me that Olbermann is upset about his departure.

[obxhead]

11. Yes, the speculation without any facts must go on though!

The block user option has become quite a friend this weekend.

[otohara]

16. Did You Know

Comcast doesn't offer MSNBC in it's basic package?

Comcast does not offer C-span in poor markets?

Comcast would rather air paid-commercial programs rather than democracy in action.

They are that greedy, evil and biased.

[Diamonique]

20. I think all that depends on where you are.

Comcast does offer MSNBC in the basic package where I live.

[csziggy]

6. Comcast may have whined "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"

And the toadies at MSNBC decided to act without waiting for direct orders.

I do think KO may have been ready to move on, probably without the abruptness of the events of yesterday.

[Doctor_J]

8. With the monopolistic organization of media right now, it can't really

hurt them too bad. They're the only game in town many places, and even if there are other choices, they're probably right wing as well. Then next to last sentence is bullshit, BTW:

So, we are left with two choices of variables to explain last night’s shocking announcement – Comcast wanted him gone for some unknown reason or MSNBC decided to sacrifice him to remove any claim of moral equivalency with Fox News.

Alternative 3 - Comcast is in bed with Fox News and the rest of the fascist media cartel. IMP the far most likely.

[RKP5637]

13. I think your Alternative 3 is right on target. n/t

[davidwparker]

18. which is now irrelevant to me since I dropped MSNBC.

Comcast is not in my area and I have Dish Network anyhow.

Funny. But, you highlighed the same phrase I did in my reply. I had just noticed it and agree with your conclusion

KO had just learned the show was cancelled -- derived from watching the stream of his signoff and listening to his Thurber selection. If he had sought to leave, he would have announced the intent to end the show in the same way Larry King did. This took ALL by surprise: viewers, staff, and colleagues.

Suppressing dissent is the only thing that makes sense.

[grasswire]

22. I maintain that KO would not have blindsided his viewers...

...had he any choice at all.

And this is a deliberate attack not solely on KO, but on the viewers as well. It is a thumb in the eye, as vicious as a pogram or putsch. KO was the figurehead. The intended target is those who respect him.

Looking through the lens of totalitarian style behavior, whoever pulled the strings scored big. Fire Keith, intimidate liberal newscasters, grind the eye of liberal/progressives. A trifecta.

[davidwparker]

23. yes. just posted a new OP to a conversation with Moore

which I was trying to locate. It was Moore's comment about KO doing his show or Moore making a difference while it makes money and the people DO NOT clamor for change. KO became too effective. Left-leaning material had taken hold at MSNBC due to him and Comcast needed to silence him.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x253413

[Anna Marie]

9. Interesting take on KO's Departure

I will no longer watch ANYthing on MSNBC, and I will not patronize Comcast. KO is irreplaceable.

[WillyT]

14. Welcome To DU, Anna Marie !!!

:toast::bounce::toast:

Glad ta have ya aboard!!!

:hi:

[tsuki]

10. Comcastrophe is sitting on a pile of old technology they have to

milk the consumer for every penny as they move to monopolize more fertile fields.

Actually last night, I had deja-vu all over again. Murrow vs Paley in the late 1950's and early 1960's about corporate/star take over of journalism.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. What if it was his?

[davidwparker]

17. Or, you go with the obvious.

"Comcast wanted him gone for some unknown reason or MSNBC decided to sacrifice him to remove any claim of moral equivalency with Fox News"

The reason is known: KO galvanizes the left in a visible way. Thom Hartmann does too, but does not have the exposure like KO did on MSNBC. Same for all the left talkers. No exposure. No mass influence. No problems.

There was an attempt to REMOVE KO before, but there was a backlash from the viewers. Now that the merger is approved, Comcast removed him. They know there would be bad press, but no time like the present to deal with it. It would have to be done at some point.

You will see this has more to do with political agenda when Rachel is next.

[grasswire]

19. yes

KO has the power to move masses of people to action. He was getting ever more dangerous to the right.

In a way, the firing has validated his power; enhanced it. What he does with it remains to be seen.

[davidwparker]

21. there was a segment with Michael Moore on with KO

where he says to KO, roughly, you're on until you make a difference. then, they will get rid of you.

I was going to include that in my reply. If anybody has time, that would be a good you-tube to find and post. I was trying to remember enough of the conversation to google it, but had not luck.

on edit: found the http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x253413">segment link.

[Major Hogwash]

24. As you say, the most plausible reason is usually the reason.

I think it is true that Comcast wanted to muzzle Keith, and I also think that the OP has some good points made in it.

Comparing MSNBC to FOX as "the other side" was stupid, lame, retarded, and completely without any merit.
So, let's just get rid of all of the liberals on tv, and then see if more Democrats get shot.

I don't think that is an answer, but obviously Comcast does.