Keith is about to get canned or MSNBC is about to bust.

[Catherine Vincent]

Mr. O is talking a big chance in telling the truth about Bush, Cheney et al. I am very concerned...for Keith, not MSNBC.

[Lancer]

1. Thank God Keith doesn't drive

or there'd be a lump in his throat every time he turned the key in the ignition.

But yes, if I were KO I would certainly beef up security -- if Dan Abrams hasn't already budgeted for it.

[cally]

2. I'm beginning to think that Keith wants to be fired

He has a history of losing jobs and I think he's pushing it as far as he can. I'm going to enjoy the ride as long as it lasts. Go Keith. He's saying what most of us wish we had TV time to say.

[LA lady]

7. I think Abrams has already told him

He is just saying all the things he wants to say before he actually leaves.

[AX10]

9. Why do you think that?

[KoKo]

20. There was a post today that MSNBC is in Big Trouble and will revamp

it's schedule. They might go to all taped programs and shift Olbermann and Matthews off to CNBC which is owned by GE/MSNBC and is also having problems in Prime Time.

It was an article from an Entertaiment Site saying that changes are coming at MSNBC.

[LA lady]

22. See KoKo's answer

Keith had a brief jump in ratings a few weeks ago and they have dropped again. Not enough people get MSNBC on their cable systems.

[INdemo]

26. You really think so...and have you heard rumors about KO ?

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. His job is safe

as long as his numbers keep climbing. I do, however, fear for his safety. Not on from this cabal, but from right wing loonies. He must be careful.

[AX10]

5. I hope you are right.

[joemurphy]

4. They'll axe him. Just like they did Donahue. But they'll

wait for a more opportune time. Maybe after the November elections. That's my prediction. We'll see.

[trotsky]

8. Donahue had their highest ratings at the time, didn't he?

Just shows that MSNBC will cave if pressured. We'll have to see how this plays out, but for now I'm enjoying the ride.

[w13rd0]

14. That was a different time...

...back then, Bush still maintained the illusion of popularity. Now that many of us aren't afraid to voice our disdain for these bastards publicly, it's a different ballgame. Rove can't put the genie back in the bottle, not without something drastic, and we're exceptionally wary about "something drastic".

[City Lights]

6. If I could give KO any advice it would be to stay off small airplanes.

:tinfoilhat: :scared:

[babylonsister]

He's stated before he's able to do this with the blessing of

MSNBC. They love the ratings! I would worry about assholes out there, but if they're watching, maybe they'd learn something beyond their undying allegiance to the self-appointed king of darkness.

[BootinUp]

10. Actually NBC is planning some changes apparently

Trying to remember where I read it, probably at E&P. Something about MSNBC may be turned into a full time news magazine channel and the top news people would move over to CNBC.

[babylonsister]

19. I saw that on DU earlier. But people speculate. I hope it's not

true.

MSNBC rumored to be going all taped programs

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6374608.html...

There has been speculation for months about MSNBC’s future as a 24-hour cable news channel—or, maybe more to the point, its lack thereof. But one indication may have come last July, when the 10-year-old network launched a newsmagazine, MSNBC Investigates. From what I’ve heard coming out of 30 Rock lately, that may be a sign of things to come.

Word is that the perennial also-ran in cable news is considering the possibility of virtually dropping out of the live-news business and devoting itself entirely to taped, newsmagazine-style programming —much of it likely repurposed from NBC News. In other words, “The Dateline: NBC Channel.”

That’s just one option under consideration. But that such a drastic idea is even on the table speaks volumes about the state of the cable news business.

If such a modification occurs, it would certainly mean changes for MSNBC’s business-news sibling, CNBC. One scenario has successful MSNBC personalities Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann moving their respective acts to CNBC in the hopes of turbo-charging its ratings-challenged primetime. In this case, NBC News still would have both channels at its disposal should it want to go live 24/7 in the event of a terrorist attack or a major natural disaster.

Whether NBC News will choose such a dramatic course of action is a subject of debate in the industry. Naysayers argue that the challenge of transforming MSNBC into a newsmag channel doesn’t make sense from either a production or an economic standpoint. Indeed, the cost of such a transformation would fly in the face of NBC’s efforts to wring tens of millions of dollars in cuts out of the news division.

<snip>

The unspoken truth in all of this speculation is that there are simply too many all-news networks and only so many people to watch them. No. 1 Fox News has seen its year-to-date ratings in primetime fall 29%—and that’s not because any of its cable-news competition has stolen away a huge share. CNN’s primetime ratings are down by 23%, while MSNBC is basically flat.

[Old and In the Way]

27. "there are simply too many all-news networks "

But very few programs that actually cover news.

[w13rd0]

11. Do you think...

...his commentaries aren't screened before he goes on air? Come on.

They know what he's doing, and as long as it keeps the numbers climbing, and generates "buzz", he'll be fine as far as MSNBC is concerned. Now whether or not the administration, or their proxies, choose to target him is another matter entirely.

[Newsjock]

12. Rumor mill is that MSNBC is to go all-documentary, Keith to CNBC

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6374608.html&referral=supp

Word is that the perennial also-ran in cable news is considering the possibility of virtually dropping out of the live-news business and devoting itself entirely to taped, newsmagazine-style programming —much of it likely repurposed from NBC News. In other words, “The Dateline: NBC Channel.”

That’s just one option under consideration. But that such a drastic idea is even on the table speaks volumes about the state of the cable news business.

... If such a modification occurs, it would certainly mean changes for MSNBC’s business-news sibling, CNBC. One scenario has successful MSNBC personalities Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann moving their respective acts to CNBC in the hopes of turbo-charging its ratings-challenged primetime. In this case, NBC News still would have both channels at its disposal should it want to go live 24/7 in the event of a terrorist attack or a major natural disaster.

[babylonsister]

34. I'd hardly call the crap they show 'documentary'. Boring imo. nt

[Subdivisions]

13. MSNBC is looking at possibly going out of existance as a 24/7

news channel and it talking about becoming a sort of Dateline NBC Channel. Reference this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2216859

Also, MSNBC's ratings have increased 33% since he began the special commentaries:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/mediamix/2006-09...

I would venture to say that they would want to keep KO talking and keep the ratings up while they consider such a transformation as mentioned above.

[waiting for hope]

15. Here's a little insight:

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/CNN_MSNBC_ratings_on_rise_as_0830.html

CNN, MSNBC August ratings on rise as Fox News Channel's prime time ratings plummet

RAW STORY
Published: Wednesday August 30, 2006


Ratings for The O'Reilly Factor fell 15 percent, while MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann increased 55% and CNN's Paula Zahn Now rose 32 percent.

[Lilith Velkor]

16. 'Taint 2002 no more, kids, bushco's ratings are down

Tha Keefster and MSNBC will do just fine.

[Nikki Stone 1]

17. Has GE been left out of the big military contractor trough?

With tax money being practically funneled directly to Haliburton, could GE be miffed?

[Generic Brad]

24. My thoughts exactly!

It's hard not to be cynical in this day and age.

[Nikki Stone 1]

30. Everytime I hear about Keith I wonder what contracts are NOT being

shared with GE. If you remember, Tom Brokaw got the anthrax mailing, along with liberal Dems (Leahy and Daschle). I don't remember Rather or Jennings getting one.

[Erika]

18. Lets make sure we email KO and MSNBC

and show our respect and appreciation for Keith's courage and brilliance.

[Luminous Animal]

29. Give Keith some love...

[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[Kolesar]

21. Hearing Keith, would you buy GE stock? ... eom

[orpupilofnature57]

28. Evil Elf is G.E. poster boy ,who served Cheney cupcakes, just maybe

they realize how ridiculous that looked , to rational people.

[orpupilofnature57]

23. Give him liberty or give him death , 9/25/06 has been the most eloquent ,,

admonishment of Shrub so far ,thats the function of Media, how to be American Keith!

[INdemo]

25. After that great commentary by Keith

Scarborough comes on and tries to tear hell out of it...Typical Repuke BS and always trying to have the last say and condemn those(KO not mentioned though) that actually tell the truth.....Oh is there just no ending to the Republican spin....He actually praised Cris Wallace
Na keith wont be fired ..its about ratings and ratings sells ads..High dollar ads

[orpupilofnature57]

31. All I can think of is Kkkarl's kids.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

32. They're not going to fire the top ranked anchor....

n/t

[Freedom_from_Chains]

33. Well we are getting an opportunity to see if we really do live

in a fascist state. If we do, Keith won't be around long. You can't speak the unvarnished truth like that and live to tell about under fascism.