Keith Olbermann Signs New 4-Year Deal

MSNBC sent out a press released heralding four more years of Keith Olbermann on MSNBC:

It reads:
NEW YORK - Nov. 10, 2008 - MSNBC has voted for four more years of Keith Olbermann and the top-rated "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," it was announced today by Phil Griffin, President, MSNBC. The new four-year agreement calls for Olbermann to continue as host of "Countdown;" additionally, Olbermann will play a prominent role in MSNBC's coverage of all major news events. He will also continue to co-host NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show.

"Keith Olbermann is at the core of MSNBC's current success," said Griffin. "'Countdown' is our signature program and I'm thrilled that we're going to be able to bring it to Keith's loyal viewers for another four year term."

"I'm delighted that we can continue to lock Countdown into the nation's political dialogue through at least the next election," said Olbermann. "Personally, I noticed that as of about six weeks ago, I'd been doing this show longer than I did SportsCenter, so it's delightful to have a true home."

In October 2008, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" had its best month ever in the key Adults 25-54 demographic, and is up a tremendous 170 percent in A25-54 from Oct. 2007 and up 180 percent in total viewers. "Countdown" continued its dominance over CNN at 8 p.m., out-rating "Campbell Brown" by 35 percent in A25-54 and 41 percent in total viewers. Excluding coverage of the presidential debates, "Countdown" is the #3 top-rated show in cable news in A25-54. "Countdown" is also the #1 cable news show among young viewers, Adults 18-34.

Since the last presidential election in 2004, "Countdown" has seen dramatic ratings increases, up a huge 238 percent among Adults 25-54 and 206 percent in total viewers.

Olbermann, who was named one of the Top Ten Most Powerful People in TV News for 2007 and 2008 by Television Week, began his NBC career in 1997, when he was anchor for NBC Sports, hosting the World Series and Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, and contributing to pre-game coverage of the Super Bowl. During that time he was also host of two primetime news programs on MSNBC, "The Big Show" and "White House In Crisis." Olbermann returned to MSNBC in 2003 as a substitute host on "Nachman" and an anchor for MSNBC's coverage of the war in Iraq before launching "Countdown" in April of 2003. Previously, Olbermann provided twice-daily commentary, "Speaking of Sports" and "Speaking of Everything" for ABC Radio Network. Prior to that, he was a regular contributor covering news and sports on CNN.

Olbermann is well known for anchoring ESPN's "SportsCenter" from 1992 to 1997, when his inimitable style made the blend of pop culture and sports a hallmark of the modern television sports reporter. While at ESPN, Olbermann helped launch ESPN2 and ESPN Radio network and wrote the critically acclaimed book "The Big Show" with Dan Patrick about his experiences working on "SportsCenter."

He is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards in radio and television broadcasting, including the 1995 Cable Ace Award for Best Sportscaster and 11 Golden Mike Awards for excellence in television and radio. Olbermann also received two Edward R. Murrow Awards, one for his coverage of the events of 9/11 and another for the anniversary coverage of 9/11.

In addition to his extensive broadcasting experience, Olbermann has written for dozens of publications, including The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated and Playboy. His first book, "The Major League Coaches," was published when he was 14. His latest book, "Truth & Consequences," a collection of his "Special Comments" from "Countdown," is a New York Times best-seller. He also published "The Worst Person in the World," based on the popular segment within "Countdown."

Phil Griffin is President, MSNBC. Izzy Povich is the Executive Producer, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann."

Comments

[nanton29]

Darn it !!!! I was rooting for KO as chief White House spokesman, but I guess that would mean having to take a pay cut.

[oneblackvote]

Yea, I love KO, he is the best. Sorry about Prop 8, I voted yes on 8.

[MrPragmatic]

Ironic that millions of whites (and many gay whites) voted for BO transcending prejudice and hatred and AA's find nothing wrong with voting yes on prop 8? Anybody who is homophobic I say get over it and find something else to hate.

[snarkopolitan]

Many whites voted for it, I think the meme that African Americans put 8 over the top may be overstated.

The Mormon Church poured thirty million dollars into ads for Prop 8. This upset a great many Mormons, mostly younger, who disagree with their church elders.

Nothing is as simple as it looks.

[snarkopolitan]

Why did you do that? My sister-in-law has lived with and cared for her partner for seventeen years. Her partner has serious health problems. This is a true act of love, a true marriage. These two good people exemplify what marriage should be about.

Perhaps the government should get out of marriage altogether. Only recognize civil unions for gays and straights, with all the legal rights that would entail. Would you agree to be recognised only as being legally united with your spouse?

Did you hear Keith say that when Barack was born, his parents' marriage wouldn't have been recognised in 17 states? Explain yourself, please.

[Rosey]

Good - he is positively the best..... even though he does not vote.......much to our consternation!

[Betsy]

Congratulations Keith......I hope they doubled your salary!

[sonshine]

Go Keith! You are single-handedly responsible for getting my 15 year old totally involved in political news. My husband and I cannot pick our jaws up off of the floor.

You are soooooo KEITHY!!!

[klandish]

I've never seen Keith give a somber "special Comment" as he did tonight. It looked like he was going to cry at points. This issue touched him. None of us will be free until we all are. He did a great job on this subject.

[daBinsi]

I always watch your show Keith!

Thanks for your comments tonight. I am not a gay but i believe they deserve the same right like mine...

[Barbara2423]

Thanks Keith for sticking around.

[Wanjiru]

...GO KEITH!!!!

...FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!

.

[TRUSTEE111269]

Congrats to Keith.His special comments are often what I`m feeling but don`t have a forum outside of ranting to my wife to express it..By the way she also blames Keith for meesing up our sex life for the last two months before the election.Hey,it was for the "cause"

[MyGuyO]

Sorry Keith, I tuned you out tonight.

[Rosey]

Keith made some excellent remarks tonight.... You tuned him out MyGuyO.... why? What gives you the right to deny civil rights to one group of people just because you disagree with them? Isn't that what America is all about? The right for every person to disagree and not be crucified for it?

[thinkworklivelove]

Yeah! I love Keith! Thank you for stepping up the game and bringing thinking commentary back in style.

[MuchMadness]

Olbermann is left of the center of the Democratic Party. I admire his opposition to the Bush administration's conduct of the battle against Islamist terrorism, but Olbermann is completely wrong to support gay unions. The Democratic Party needs to move to the right on social issues if it wishes to keep power for long. If not, voters will choose candidates from another party in future elections. The Democrats will not win Indiana, Virginia, or North Carolina again if they keep supporting abortion and the gay rights movement.

[TN]

If people don't like gay marriage, then they shouldn't marry the same sex. Other than that, they can stay out of everybody else's business. Live up to your own ideals, quit trying to dictate your vision of what is wrong on others. Control yourself, leave everyone else alone. God is judge, not you.

[mikey46]

you would do well to remember that TN

[bushlies]

For the life of me, I cannot understand WHY some people get so worked up over gay people marrying. As that old British philosopher John Lennon once said: "Whatever gets you through the night..." Peoples' bedrooms and who occupies them is nobody else's ****ing business!

[mikey46]

they can do whatever sick things they want in their bedrooms...just keep it away from our kids and don't allow sacred marriage to become a mockery...life is not SNL although this countries values have gone so far down the toilet its hard to tell anymore

[anthroman]

The Democratic Party "needs to move to the right on social issues"?? Uh, no. Not by a long shot.

[foreverleft]

The topic of tonights special comment-love.

Love?

Olbermann's hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Night after night, Mr. O spews hatred and venom upon those with opinions that differ from his own. It is rare, if not extraordinary when he allows anyone on his program with an opposing view.

Even Billo the Clown encourages that.

How very unfortunate that such a gifted individual expends not a single calorie attempting to open the minds of others.

Preaching to the choir will not get us there from here.

[goodmarina]

What is wrong with Love?

He was right on target. Best the heck out of the hatred incited by the Fox-News types.

[MuchMadness]

What was objectionable was that he took the words of Jesus out of context to promote an idea that finds no support in the New Testament. Supporting a redefinition of marriage is not a correct application of "love thy neighbor as thyself."

[BeasleysMom]

Bill O'Reilly only invites opposing views to try to turn them around and when he can't he tries to humiliate them, ranting and talking over them. Not a good example to bolster your very wrong point.

[Lee323]

"Olbermann's hypocrisy knows no bounds."

Have to disagree with you on this one. Keith is outspoken, sometimes outrageous....but he's never hypocritical. You don't like his show?....(emphasis on "his")....don't watch it. It's called "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," not the "Nightly News." Shop around. I'm sure you'll be able to find one that fits your definition of mind-opening.

Meanwhile....Congratulations, Keith!! Love your show!! You give voice to all of us who don't have our own shows. Hahaha.

[Bruupo]

Indignation is not hate. Criticism is not hate.

It takes an especially emotion-based connection to reality to not see the difference. It takes an especially simple mind to equate all things that sound "negative" or "impolite", regardless of context.

This is the kind of mind Sarah Palin has. She equates any criticism of her with an "attack"- no matter how innocuous, and uses it to justify then turning around and making the kinds of "attacks" that genuinely speak to hate, fuel hate, and create real dangers. They are not equivalent.

Further, it is laughable to judge who Keith Olbermann invites onto his show based only on who ends up appearing on it. Just like Rachel Maddow, Olbermann has made LOTS of invitations to folks on the other side of an issue- they never take him up on it, just as they almost never take Maddow up on it. You can't blame the host for that.

Especially since the REASON the folks on the other aisle refuse to go on their programs is because, unlike Bill-O, KO and RM don't exaggerate and distort and lie about peoples records. Those kinds of guests don't see anything to gain by going on with them, while people like Barney Frank end up feeling like they pretty much have to go on Factor just to try to set the record straight, because the distortions get so bad that a screaming match actually seems preferable.

[misty1]

Keith is one of the best people to watch he tells it like it is. As for his prop 8 special comment
I am with Keith on this one who cares if these people want to be married. They want to be
happy just like every one else. They would be the ones to answer to God on judgement day
if they think they know what they are doing so do I . They are adults and are of sound mind
and judgement. Good luck on your new contract Keith maybe this will make up for
the funds you had to give to Wasilla.

[mikey46]

so you think its ok for kids to be exposed to this sick union? society has gone to he__