NYT story says KO "agreed to a deal that would keep him off television for six to nine months"

[highplainsdem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/business/media/24olbermann.html

This is mostly about "years of tension" at MSNBC -- more leaks to make Keith look like the one to blame for this -- but there's a bit of interesting information (if true) on page 2 of the story, about the length of time the deal keeps him off television.

[WillyT]

1. Of All The Things That Piss Me Off About This...

the one that just dawned on me, is that Keith won't be there to discuss the SOTU Tuesday night.

:mad:

:banghead:

:beer:

:shrug:

[bleever]

2. And the Michelle Bachmann response!

It just won't be the same...

[WillyT]

3. Damn... It Just Keeps Getting Worse...

:beer::beer::beer:

:smoke:

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[highplainsdem]

5. That dawned on me, too, and I don't think Keith wanted to leave before the SOTU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x249972

[roguevalley]

6. Yeah, TMZ says that keith is going to be working with Aaron Sorkin

who wrote etc west wing on a show, something called social network. Its at TMZ.COM go down the page.

[Tx4obama]

10. That's just a rumor so far. Keith hasn't said yet what he is going to do. n/t

[Raine]

8. That was one of my first thoughts ... oh damn

I don't know whether I'm more :mad: or :cry:

edit: typo

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. Even worse...

I'm sure that Faux and Limpballs will have a field day trashing KO. :puke::puke:

[bluedigger]

4. If I were Keith...

I'd probably just go to Yankees games until my agent made the deal I was looking for.

[earth mom]

7. Don't have cable and am wondering how critical Keith was about Obama?

Could 2012 be one of the reasons he was silenced? :shrug:

[WillyT]

11. Like Many Of Us, He Gave Props When He Thought Obama Did Good, And...

not so much when he thought he did not.

:shrug:

[earth mom]

24. Thanks for the info.

:hi:

I've watched Keith when someone posts something good of his here on DU but I haven't been keeping track as much as I should have. :hide:

[Raine]

12. I didn't think he was that critical but

I still can help but think of the remark from the administration about the "professional left" and wonder.... hmm. KO even mentioned it saying something to the effect that he didn't realize he was a member "professional left". I can't help but wonder if it was some kind of warning directed toward some on MSNBC.

[pacalo]

18. Interesting point.

[earth mom]

25. Thanks for that very interesting point! nt

[Uzybone]

28. oh geez....

then why are the right wing crazies still on?

[wndycty]

19. If you think he was forced out because of criticism of Obama you obviously don't know. . .

. . .what Ed Schultz and Cenk have said about Obama.

[earth mom]

23. Maybe they're next on the chopping block. nt

[Tx4obama]

9. Well if he's off the air for only 6 mos, he'll be back in time for when the 2012 campaigning starts

[Towlie]

13. Well, he can always blog.

This is a great opportunity for him to establish a strong Internet presence.

[Contrary1]

15. Wonder if that "deal" included webcasts...

I would watch.

[RagAss]

20. Is that a Larry Fine avatar??

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Contrary1]

21. Soitenly!

One of the three men I admire the most. ;)

[RagAss]

31. Like I always say...."Larry was a very Underrated Stooge"

[pacalo]

16. Preventing Keith from being on the air isn't justifiable; it's strictly punitive.

And it's galling & cowardly of MSNBC to voice its own slant to the media while preventing Keith from offering his side.

The character of those making the decisions at MSNBC is apparently very low & consistent with reich-wing tactics.

What good reason would they have to keep Keith off the air for 6-9 months if it's not punishment; punishment for WHAT?

After hearing about the petty limitations put on Keith, he's too good a person to work in an environment like MSNBC/Comcast.

[jeff47]

22. Well...

They had the option to keep him off the air for 2 years by not releasing him from his contract and just keeping him off the air. Considering they could 'punish' him for 4 times longer, it seems a bit odd to be upset about this short window.

Besides, it would take at least 6-9 months to develop a new show and get it on the air. It's really not much of a punishment.

[fishwax]

26. I don't think that's all that unusual in such contract buyouts

and it's something that KO would have had to agree to in negotiations.

[Common Sense Party]

30. Two words: Conan O'Brien.

He had the same proviso in his settlement with NBC.

In corporate life, it's common to have a non-compete clause.

[glinda]

17. I think if affiliates of the parent Company and or investors are trashing him then they should face

a lawsuit. Usually there is agreement to not say anything but NBC, Comcast has tons of tendrils.

[slackmaster]

27. I always thought he looked better on the radio anyway

:hi:

[Kalyke]

29. Not me.

Yeah - sure he looked like he should have wacka-wacka porn music following him around when he was on ESPN, but he aged quite handsomely so that, by the time "Countdown" came on, he reminded me of a handsome professor I would not have minded favoring for report card As.

:loveya:

[delightfulstar]

32. Wherever he goes...

I will watch/listen. If the Sorkin story materializes (although that was TMZ, so some caveats there), that would be a very powerful combination. I know there are better things down the pike for Keith than whatever he was putting up with at M$NBC.