Keith Olbermann Back On Current TV, But Will It Last?

Is there trouble brewing between Keith Olbermann and Current TV? Fans of his show, "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" are certainly wondering.

When one viewer asked Olbermann if "Countdown" would air during the Iowa caucuses earlier this week, he tweeted that his show was not going to be broadcast. Although he didn't explain why the program had been preempted, Olbermann did encourage unhappy viewers to contact the network and its co-founders, including former vice president and Current TV chairman, Al Gore.

According to a Current TV spokesperson, the commentator was offered the opportunity to be the sole anchor and executive producer of the network's primary and caucus coverage, but "unfortunately, he declined."

On Wednesday, Olbermann addressed his absence during coverage of the Iowa caucuses in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "I was not given a legitimate opportunity to host under acceptable conditions," he stated.

Olbermann did not provide details on the exact nature of those conditions. However, in recent weeks, his show has suffered from numerous technical difficulties, including satellite feed disruption and lighting issues, The New York Times reported.

The tempestuous host left MSNBC last year, just weeks after the liberal cable news channel suspended him for making donations to political candidates. Since migrating to Current TV, "Countdown" has become the network's top-rated program.

Olbermann returned to the airwaves on Wednesday night, but it's unclear if the rift with his bosses has been mended. No word yet on whether Olbermann will cover the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday, either.

Comments

[CaliTLC]

02:37 AM on 01/06/2012

I will watch when it is broadcast in HD and NOT one minute before. This is ridiculous. You can't compete with other networks without broadcasting in HD. Period. Get with the program CURRENT.

[Carolab]

01:18 AM on 01/06/2012

P.S. I'm sure this has to do with a conflict on decision-making between the new "management" (Bohrman) and Keith.

[Carolab]

01:17 AM on 01/06/2012

I only watch Current for Keith. Cenk is cool and all but I never even watched his online show. And Granholm is an unknown at this time. If they lose KO, I'm out.

[Sambacampojo]

07:01 PM on 01/05/2012

Whoa, gettin' schooled and speelchecked by teabaggers and wing nuts.....Priceless..
Thanks Keith for making it all possible..More fun than Disneyland AND cheaper..As I said, time to bring back voting tests..

[charpist5]

06:59 PM on 01/05/2012

Why would anyone want to watch him....ever?

[Fingdower1]

05:24 PM on 01/05/2012

With an audience consisting of his Mother,Father and Brother I doubt it.

[darkwaterz29]

05:05 PM on 01/05/2012

Who?

[BurrRobson]

04:49 PM on 01/05/2012

Ha ha ha ha ha ha, the man can't get on a channel anyone actually watches.

[skeptical2]

03:54 PM on 01/05/2012

MSNBC is not "liberal." The rhetoric may approach it, but it is filled with Democratic operatives, just like FOX is filled with Republican operatives. In the final analysis, both parties manipulate the media (or are bought off by them) and their policies on the issues are not that different. The Big Money parties ensure that the 1% keep getting richer, entangle us in wars, keep taxes low on the rich, and take away our rights. Regarding Keith Olbermann, he's still one of the most intelligent hosts on TV.

[BurrRobson]

04:51 PM on 01/05/2012

MSNBC is the MOST biased channel I have ever encountered. It makes Fox actually look balanced.

[Robert Kilbourne]

05:10 PM on 01/05/2012

When will his intelligence come through? All I hear is liberal bis out of his mouth. If that passes for intelligence the country passes it by. As they do every night by not watching.

[dzj1]

08:01 PM on 01/15/2012

So if anyone disagrees with you are they labeled a "liberal". Get use to it ´cus there are many more people in the world who are "liberal" than conservative. Most people don´t want to live in a world of the Taliban like what your fellow conservative press and promote. I want my liberties and rights to be restored!!!

[speedydan79]

02:45 PM on 01/05/2012

There's no network big enough for his ego. He should get his own network. and then maybe he'll appreciate what a pain he is.

[DocBlake]

03:38 PM on 01/05/2012

You obviously don't watch. Olbermann has very strong opinions but is a very self-deprecating person. Being a teabagger, I'm sure you loathe hime for his opinions. I'm also sure you don't know what "self-deprecating" means!

[speedydan79]

04:18 PM on 01/05/2012

He's a big blowhard as are you.

[BurrRobson]

04:53 PM on 01/05/2012

I'm a conservative, Mensa member, not a Tea Partier; would you insult me too? It's so easy to insult on a computer. But it makes you look impotent and irreleva.nt. Just sayin'.

[buffjetmech]

04:15 PM on 01/05/2012

You mean like Glenn Beck? Now there s an ego big enough for two networks!

[cireneed]

04:40 PM on 01/05/2012

Rush Windbag is the king of BLOWhards. That is no misnomer.

[buckeye3118]

02:18 PM on 01/05/2012

Did he chase both viewers away from Current TV? You would think an Al Gore channel would have lots of viewers, considering how many fans there are of science fiction.

[Jack Straw]

11:33 AM on 01/06/2012

Science Fiction?? It's Current TV, not Scientology TV

[Sambacampojo]

02:17 PM on 01/05/2012

limbaw is an IQ test......so rock on Keith.You're way over their heads...Any poor, misbegotten soul who actually is talken in by sans sanity and the rupe and rog show is more to be pitied than scorned...Po' dears..Time to bring back voting tests...Oh yeah, and they're planning ANOTHER
WAR in the Midddle East...

[Pegassus55]

02:27 PM on 01/05/2012

.. if they're making imminent plans for another war, it is with the consent of Kieth's Charlatan in the White House..

[shemardunn]

02:55 PM on 01/05/2012

What, pray tell, is a "limbaw"?

[DocBlake]

04:19 PM on 01/05/2012

A "limbaw" is a fat blowhard liar with his own radio program and a serious history of narcotic abuse. He is a patron saint of the teabagger movement

[Sambacampojo]

06:52 PM on 01/05/2012

Yup, rest my case....Can you return those degrees from glenbeckU?.just askin'...

[Dumb in America]

02:14 PM on 01/05/2012

I watch the show regularly and enjoy that he brings to light topics that the "liberal" (ha ha ha) media won't. Go get em Keith and don't listen to these mouthpieces that spend their day out there supporting the elites agenda. BTY, those of you who REALLY work for a living and vote repugnant.. er republican, please shoot yourselves with your NRA ensured guns.

[shemardunn]

02:25 PM on 01/05/2012

Like your name says.

[The Right]

04:13 PM on 01/05/2012

Wow, you are so eloquent. BTY-hmmm? I am scratching my head trying to figur eout what your statement "shoot yourself with your NRA ensured guns". Do you mean insured as in protected or ensured meaning the Constitution ensures all people have the right to keep and bear arms? I love your moniker. If the soe fits, wear it.I too hope keith keeps up his rants and raves. It only helps the middle of the road crowd decide who is civil and who isn't.

[DocBlake]

04:16 PM on 01/05/2012

So you criticize someone else's spelling, then proceed to spell "shoe" "soe"! Sheesh. Typical teabagger.

[madmikiemike]

02:01 PM on 01/05/2012

i like keith, tho he has his faults. the faux news people have theirs, too; they just won't admit any of them. i can't get keith's new network because i'd have to pay up for more channels, and i already have more channels than i watch. i like Lawrence O'Donnell of The Last Word. he is more fun to watch, because he is a bit more able to tick off people like the Apprentice, aka the Trumpette, or Sarah (1/2 a term is plenty) Palin, one l gone and she's a pain. in certain matters, O'Donnell is better able to speak his mind, and he never minces his words. i guess, sad to say, i'm okay w/o any keith in my life, tho i do miss Worst Person in the World, even tho you could place the same bet every night that Bill O'Really would be in it somewhere and there'd be a really good chance you'd win.

[The Right]

04:41 PM on 01/05/2012

me likey faux news it iz gud to wasch. keith is the bestes person in the worl to have.

[Cashman the Oracle]

02:00 PM on 01/05/2012

The insufferable personality defects we see on the air are magnified off the air.

[Fred997]

04:05 PM on 01/05/2012

What network is your show on? Your probably right.

[MrsPeel]

11:58 PM on 01/05/2012

LMAO! Thanks!