Olbermann Split Came After Years of Tension

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

MSNBC never had any doubt about what it was getting when it made Keith Olbermann the face of the network in 2003: a highly talented broadcaster, a distinctive and outspoken voice and a mercurial personality with a track record of attacking his superiors and making early exits.

Even his own boss, Phil Griffin, offered this assessment in 2008, when Mr. Olbermann was being heavily criticized by supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton because he was urging her to drop out of the race to become the Democratic presidential candidate.

(snip)

Still, the news of his abrupt departure from “Countdown” — delivered by Mr. Olbermann on Friday night — came as a shock to his many fans, some of whom accused Comcast, the incoming owner of MSNBC’s parent, NBC Universal, of forcing out the host for political reasons.

Many people inside the television industry are astonished that a cable network’s highest-rated host, whose forceful personality and liberal advocacy had lifted MSNBC from irrelevance to competitiveness and profitability, would be ushered out the door with no fanfare, no promoted farewell show and only a perfunctory thanks for his efforts.

But underlying the decision, which one executive involved said was not a termination but a “negotiated separation,” were years of behind-the-scenes tension, conflicts and near terminations.

Mr. Griffin, along with Jeff Zucker, the head of NBC Universal, and Steve Capus, the president of NBC News, had long protected and defended Mr. Olbermann, even when insiders like the NBC anchor emeritus Tom Brokaw publicly took Mr. Olbermann to task. Mr. Brokaw said Mr. Olbermann had “gone too far” in campaign coverage that openly took Democratic positions.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/business/media/24olbermann.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[forty6]

1. Tom Brokaw...."Olbermann went too far"? GMAB!

Brokaw did the nightly news on NBC, not a one hour political commentary show on MSNBC. Is Brokaw blind to the difference?

Does the Morning Joke show "go too far" too?

Since when is a progressive perspective "opnely taking Democratic positions:"? Olbermann has been critical of Democrats as well as Republicans.

I wish Brokaw had been a bit more "fair and balanced" in his coverage of W. for several of the years that chimp was in the White House.

I wish Brokaw had critically examined the need to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2001-2004! He waved the damn flaq over "mission accomplished" for Christ sakes.

[Loge23]

6. Brokaw can KMA!

What a sham of a "reporter" this bag of shit is.

[W_HAMILTON]

8. He must not...

...considering he seems to appear on Morning Joe quite often.

[forty6]

10. Thanks! I didn't know that because I seldom watch more than 2 mins

of that horrible show. That show is worse than the weekend prison shows MSNBC puts on. What is up with those shows? Makes no sense to me. Who would glue themselves to a TV set on the weekends to watch prisoners fighting with guards, themselves, etc?

Without what USED to be the evening line-up from 5-11 Eastern MSNBC is a JOKE!

[mulsh]

9. Browkow was a news reader. Hasn't done a speck of

journalism or real reporting since be got on the Today Show. He has a resonant voice. Empty spaces tend to resonate. He has gray hair and has been reading the news and asking questions from a script for years. Don't confuse his ability to read well and sound good with actual journalistic integrity or even the ability to hold much of an opinion.

[forty6]

11. Don't worry, I never saw Brokaw as anything other than a pretty face! n't

[Raine]

2. Brokaw should keep his nose out of MSNBC

what goes on there shouldn't be his business any more than what goes on on ShopNBC ... he's such a pompous stuck up ass. x(

edit: typo

[Vattel]

3. So Comcast didn't get KO fired.

Good riddance.

[aquart]

5. They said it so it must be true.

No reason to lie for ComCast which is controlling the jobs and money.

[TicketyBoo]

4. Remember MTV's old jingle?

"I want my MTV"?

Well, I want my Countdown back. That tune is running through my head over and over again.

Maybe KO should get some tips, not from Conan, but from Jay?

[MilesColtrane]

7. "negotiated separation"

NBC to Olbermann: "You're fired!"

Olbermann to NBC: "Suck it. You can't fire me, I have a contract."

NBC to Olbermann: "OK, we'll pay off the rest of the contract, if you say we didn't fire you."

Olbermann to NBC: "Agreed. Adios, douchebags."