Who Really Suspended Keith Olbermann? - Michael Wolff

[WillyT]

Who Really Suspended Keith Olbermann?
Nov 5, 2010
By Michael Wolff

<snip>

Let’s unravel the politics here. The most reasonable assumption is that the indefinite suspension of Keith Olbermann is not about ethics in journalism or corporate policy at NBC. When you suspend your big earner and 800-pound gorilla and, in a sense, raison d'être, it’s pure power play.

The story now reads like MSNBC president, Phil Griffin, is making a grab.

Griffin, a career network news guy, has risen at MSNBC as Olbermann has risen. It is Olbermann, after all, who has single-handedly remade MSNBC as liberal TV (or anti-Fox TV) and given it its brand and value.

Griffin and Olbermann have tag-teamed on-air and back office. More bluntly: Griffin works for Olbermann. Effectively so -- perhaps even happily.

Griffin seems to have adapted to and even thrived on the basis of Olbermann’s hard-to-haldle personality.

So what’s changed?

Comcast obviously.

<snip>

More: http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/digital/e3i4ef51a35fea2a26d50a9db6d1f3f4011

:mad::nuke::mad:

[Ian David]

1. Say No to the Comcast-NBC Merger!

Say No to the Comcast-NBC Merger!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x34408

[madmax]

3. This is great. Thanks k & r

[crazylikafox]

4. the Comcast MSNBC merger is done - just say no to COMCAST

[Ian David]

7. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? n/t

[WillyT]

8. LOL !!!

That's right !!!



:rofl:

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[pinboy3niner]

20. *Spray*

:rofl:

[madmax]

2. 'Indefinate' grrrrrrrrrrr

The bold paragraph makes perfect sense to me.

[RamboLiberal]

5. Add this

Two years ago Keith Olbermann was MSNBC. In many ways, he was untouchable, and knew it. In a New Yorker profile in June 2008, he joked that his boss, Phil Griffin, “thinks he’s my boss.” Around the same time, a high level MSNBC source told me, “He is not central to MSNBC, he is the center of the MSNBC ratings strategy. We hang the entire schedule on him.”

But that’s changed. Now, Rachel Maddow is getting better ratings than Olbermann in the key A25-54 demographic, and Lawrence O’Donnell isn’t far behind. Olbermann is no longer the center of the strategy either – as the network has unveiled a vibrant, massive new campaign “Lean Forward” which focuses on half a dozen members of the MSNBC talent pool.

MSNBC executives – and executives even higher up the ladder – have to feel secure in their position in the cable news battle, even if Olbermann never returns to the line-up. Which brings us to reason number two: Comcast. The imminent merger and ultimate takeover is a tricky business maneuver, that both GE and Comcast have to be aware of. It has the attention of the government, and it has the attention of the competition. The company doesn’t need bad press right now – especially not one that’s political in nature. It also doesn’t help when Olbermann has previously tweeted things like Comcast wanting “to go more liberal” (a claim that doesn’t seem to be backed up anywhere). And on top of all that, this comes as NBC News appears to want to distance themselves from their more partisan cable channel.

If Olbermann sits out his suspension, however long, and is offered the chance to return, he will come back with the understanding his workplace environment is vastly different than it was two years ago, when he was both head coach and superstar. He’s still a powerful force at the network – and continues to get their best total viewer ratings. But he’s no longer as essential as he once was. Will he be capable of dealing with the new conditions and biting the bullet? His past would indicate the answer is no.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/the-two-underlying-reasons-keith-olbermann-was-suspended-now/

[WillyT]

6. Very Good !!! - Thank You !!!

:hi:

[johnfunk]

10. Do the math: Comcast vs. Time Watrner. Smart money has Olbermann at CNN in weeks.

Take it to the bank.

[chill_wind]

16. Steve Krakauer (author of this one)-- is more into Drudge and Glenn Beck than K.O

I suspect, so I'm going to take his insider opinion/predictions in this one with a large grain of salt:


http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?tag=steve-krakauer

[Turborama]

19. And this...

UPDATED: Before Bush Donor Takeover Of MSNBC, Network Selectively Applies Rules To Suspend Olbermann

=snip=

Late last year, Comcast — the nation’s largest cable provider and second largest Internet service provider — inked a deal taking over NBC Universal, the parent company of MSNBC. Comcast moved swiftly to reshuffle MSNBC’s top staff. On September 26th of this year, Comcast announced perhaps the most dramatic shift, replacing longtime MSNBC chief Jeff Zucker with Comcast executive Steve Burke

We have been informed that no Comcast officials are currently involved in the decisions of NBC or MSNBC.]. Burke has given generous amounts to both parties — providing cash to outgoing Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) as well as to Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and other top Republicans. But as Public Citizen has noted, Burke has deep ties to the Republican Party. Public Citizen’s report reveals that Burke served as a key fundraiser to President George Bush, and even served on Bush’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology:

Comcast – the country’s largest provider of cable TV and broadband Internet services – has increased its political giving along with its mergers and acquisitions. CEO Brian Roberts was a co-chairman of the host committee at the 2000 Republican Convention. Comcast Cable President Stephen Burke has raised at least $200,000 for Bush’s re-election campaign. <...> Comcast’s political giving has increased along with its mergers and acquisitions. The company was a “platinum sponsor” at the 2000 GOP convention, and Roberts was a co-chairman of the host committee at the Philadelphia event. Burke was appointed to the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology in 2002.

Why would Comcast be interested in silencing progressive voices? Historically, Comcast has boosted its profits by buying up various telecommunication and media content companies — instead of providing faster Internet or better services (overall, American broadband services are far slower than in many industrialized nations). Many of these mergers, as Public Citizen and Free Press have reported, have been allowed by regulators because of Comcast’s considerable political muscle. Comcast’s latest regulatory battle has been to oppose Net Neutrality — a rule allowing a free and open Internet — because the company would prefer to have customers pay for preferred online content.

Much more, including a lot of embedded links: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/11/05/burke-comcast-msnbc/

[johnfunk]

9. Hey, Phil Griffin: How does it feel...

… to be Phil Anschutz's jailhouse bitch?

[Bozita]

11. CoMSNBCast?

[brettdale]

12. Perhaps

Olbermann will move to faux?

[RamboLiberal]

13. Actually might not be a bad idea for Murdoch to offer KO a job

As long as KO got his own show, his own editorial control & wasn't forced to be Hannity's *****.

[chill_wind]

17. Murdoch fired him once already. (Fox Sports) That was undoubtedly a blessing

for K.O. Murdoch has publicly called him crazy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/29/murdoch-boasts-about-firi_n_104080.html

I don't think it would be a good second-marriage.

[moondust]

14. New CEO.

Associated Press
updated 9/26/2010 7:22:19 PM ET 2010-09-26T23:22:19


PHILADELPHIA — Comcast Chief Operating Officer Steve Burke will succeed Jeff Zucker as the new CEO of NBC Universal later this year, when Comcast takes control of the broadcaster.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39369603/ns/business-media_biz/

The KO suspension may be the beginning of the "transition." ??

[WillyT]

15. That's What It's Looking Like...

:shrug:

:hi:

[Joe Fields]

18. Total bullshit.