"sources inside the network say it came down to the more mundane world of office politics"

[sufrommich]

This looks closer to the truth to me than anything else I've read:

Sources tell Mediaite Keith Olbermann and MSNBC were headed for a breakup long before Comcast’s rise to power, but clearly something set the divorce into motion quickly today, with network promos set to run touting Olbermann’s role in MSNBC’s coverage of next week’s State of the Union address–and, notably, a Keith Olbermann promo running on MSNBC in the hour after the host signed off and left the network.

MSNBC executives have long planned for the day the network’s star might be sent packing, and the rise of Rachel Maddow at MSNBC–along with the grooming of Lawrence O’Donnell as a potential replacement for Olbermann–appears to have hastened the host’s departure.

While Olbermann and his iconic Countdown have been immensely important in the resurgence of MSNBC, Olbermann’s friction with management has been a sticking point. At many points–including the recent suspension over political contributions–tensions rose so high as to lead to serious discussions inside MSNBC about firing their star.

With Maddow enjoying both immense popularity inside MSNBC and very strong ratings for her Rachel Maddow Show, Olbermann’s invincibility as the heart and soul of MSNBC’s brand became softer. In recent weeks, sources tell Mediaite there have been meetings on the topic of Keith Olbermann and his future at the network. Did Comcast–as many Countdown viewers seem to suspect–order Olbermann out? It appears that the end of the Olbermann era at MSNBC was not “ordered” by Comcast, nor was it a move to tone down the network’s politics. Instead, sources inside the network say it came down to the more mundane world of office politics–Olbermann was a difficult employee, who clashed with bosses, colleagues and underlings alike, and with the Comcast-related departure of Jeff Zucker, and the rise of Maddow and O’Donnell, the landscape shifted, making an Olbermann exit suddenly seem well-timed.



http://www.mediaite.com/tv/why-keith-olbermann-is-out-at-msnbc/

[michaz]

1. Lawrence is nothing great to watch. Rachel is but I will not be watchng as

I will not be watching anything on MSNBC.

[roguevalley]

11. Lawrence coddles the status quo. his keep the tax cut shit showed

me he's more pug than dem. i don't watch him. Rachel and Ed. That's all.

[phleshdef]

24. Lawrence O Donnell isn't anywhere close to being a Republican.

And you are being totally dishonest about his views on the tax cut and you know it.

[flamingdem]

47. Lawrence describes himself as a Socialist nt

[phleshdef]

59. Yea, and its in the same sense that I'm a socialist. I want to see democratic socialism

...whole heartedly embraced by America. But I also realize that the country is not yet in the place for that to happen and that we have to work outside of social democratic ideals in order to keep the country running. Just because you can't get something purely progressive passed doesn't mean you shouldn't pass anything at all. The movement of the country doesn't hit the breaks on dealing with unemployment and dealing with middle class tax stability just because you couldn't work those things through law and exclude continuing low tax levels for the wealthy.

[EC]

57. Lawrence is a self professed

Socialist.

[moondust]

75. Lawrence is a "beltway liberal."

And he never stops reminding people of that. I imagine that is much more compatible with the corporate management than an "outsider" like Keith.

[Kalyke]

2. Rachel's smart, but her ratings are a direct result of Keith.

I predict the network will tank.

But, maybe that's the idea.

[sufrommich]

4. Rachel Maddow is the smartest person in the room on MSNBC.

She's not going anywhere.

[merh]

14. Rachel Maddow is the smartest person on television

I don't know how it will go for the network now that KO is gone, he did pull a lot of ratings.

[Kalyke]

27. You need to recall Adlai Stephenson

Apparently, Americans don't like "too smart."

Even Clinton had to "dumb" himself down by over-emphasizing his Southern accent.

[HeroTwins]

49. that doesn't mean alot of her audience wasn't just waiting for Countdown

[sufrommich]

50. She comes on after Countdown. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

3. You don't fire your biggest money maker without your owner's approval

Hard to believe that Comcast would say "Oh, OK, we'll lower revenues" unless they specifically wanted him out.

[sufrommich]

6. I'll wait for a statement from Olbermann,I'm not sure he was fired.

Sounds to me like he didn't want to be there any more than they wanted him there.

[digitaln3rd]

8. Especially in the middle of a merger.

I can't believe Comcast would be on board with a move that would cause any sort of instability while they're trying to complete a merger.

[csziggy]

25. Comcast may not have ordered it, but the toadies may have thought it a good idea

To dump Keith quick before Comcast actually took over.

[coolhip33]

62. revenue from MSNBC TV is chump change in the NBC Universal checking account

[Ozymanithrax]

5. I won't be watching MSNBC...

Whatever the reason.

[MineralMan]

7. That makes sense, actually.

[renate]

9. ew... "grooming of Lawrence O'Donnell as a potiential replacement"?

:puke:

No, Comcast. Just... no.

I wouldn't want Rachel's show to change its tone to become more like Countdown's. I liked an hour of Keith's ascerbity followed by Rachel's calmer personality and humor.

I can only think of one person, off the top of my head, who might be a replacement for Keith, and that's Alan Grayson. Not O'Donnell. No. Noooooooo.....

[Liberal Gramma]

34. I like your idea!

Alan Grayson would make a great commentator.

[young_at_heart]

10. I love Rachel, but not without Keith

Rachel owes her spot on MSNBC to Keith, her mentor. She's great, but I couldn't watch her show without thinking of Keith and all the enjoyment would be gone. It just won't work!

[sufrommich]

15. I think it's important to remember that they are all media

personalities.Maddow is the best political show on TV in my opinion. I'm not going to stop watching the most informative show on television because of office politics.I'm not that invested in their lives.

[coolhip33]

63. watch Rachel here

at JustinTV http://www.justin.tv/rockinroosters12#/w/785000336/14 . That way you still get your fix but are not supporting MSNBC TV advertisers. They will quitely slip back into 3rd place again which is the punishment they deserve.

[robinlynne]

12. Then why did they lengthen his contract just 2 months ago?

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Okay, don't get mad at me, but...

Maddow isn't exactly in Olbermann's league. She sometimes rambles and comes up with silly gong game props. Maybe I'm not her target audience?

[sufrommich]

18. Maybe you not her audience then. To each his own.

Personally I always liked her show more than the more exuberant personalities on MSNBC.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. If she's connecting with progressives, that's all that's important.

[sufrommich]

28. True,hopefully she can connect with would be progressives too. nt

[qazplm]

19. I think if she just excised the attempts at being silly

she'd be better. Not saying be humorless, funny is fine, but silly is not.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. I agree. I don't expect her to be a Jon Stewart, but silly is hard to take seriously,

If you know what I mean.

[juajen]

22. She is charming and smart and very different from Olbermann.

It's not fair to compare the two. Their differences were what made them fun to watch.

[udbcrzy2]

29. You are spot on

I agree 100%. I like Cenk from The Young Turks. Rachael needs to become more polished and I'm surprised they/she hasn't tried to do that yet. I like the subjects she talks about. I hate the 'gong game props' too, that's really a turn off for me. Don't get me wrong, I want her to be successful, but would like for her to be more 'polished' while she is doing it. Sorry if I offended anyone.

[grasswire]

32. yeah, the silly stuff turns me off

And she's extremely repititious in her commentary style. I can't watch a whole episode. I admire her, but I can't take much of what she presents that isn't reporting news.

[The Backlash Cometh]

37. Is her roots radio?

Maybe she just needs time to transition. There's a big difference between filling air time for radio, than there is for t.v.

[coolhip33]

64. Yes Air America

[dkf]

41. Yeah I like Rachel and Lawrence, but they aren't the big guns.

Nobody does it like Olbermann.

[HeroTwins]

51. don't forget the Happy Hour Cocktails

[The Backlash Cometh]

53. If she's trying to hit the college age crowd, I can almost understand it.

I actually told my son about the garnish info she offered. My son was experimenting with Martinis (yuck, that's so rat pack) and wanted to know if he should eat the garnish.

[gateley]

16. Agree - that's what it sounds like to me from this blog from The Daily Beast:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-21/keith-olbermann-quits-msnbcs-countdown/?om_rid=DiK05X&om_mid=_BNOuxIB8XljW1e

Ego Wars.

[sufrommich]

26. Yeah, that's what it sounds like. nt

[qazplm]

17. I like Keith

and he did a great job as an alternate voice when there were few on TV, but let's be honest here, he has a LONG history of being difficult to work with not just at MSNBC but also at ESPN.

This rings true to me.

[csziggy]

23. "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"

"It appears that the end of the Olbermann era at MSNBC was not “ordered” by Comcast"

[tsuki]

30. Ahh, the DLC & Third Way is out in force. Don't blame Comcastrophe, they're

a lovely bunch of coconuts.

[sufrommich]

31. What the hell are you talking about? Maybe you should try

replacing your tired "DLC/third way" cliche with a little common sense. Not everyone needs a breathless conspiracy theory to get through the day.

[TheKentuckian]

35. The DLC/New Democrats/Blue Dogs are not a conspiracy theory but real and deadly

threat to a functioning democracy and self determination of the individual.

Their goals, worldview, and powerful influence are readily apparent. The denial is clownish.

[sufrommich]

39. Which has what to do with this article? It's ridiculous to determine

that any mention that Olbermanns exit from MSNBC might not have anything to do with Comcast is tantamount to cheerleading for Comcast.

[TheKentuckian]

68. Your interjection so don't complain when it is addressed

[sufrommich]

69. My interjection? Maybe you should check post # 30. nt

[Pisces]

33. I will only watch Rachel. MSNBC made a big mistake letting Keith go in this manner.

[coolhip33]

65. then please watch her here

at JustinTV http://www.justin.tv/rockinroosters12#/w/785000336/14 . That way you still get your fix but are not supporting MSNBC TV advertisers. They will quitely slip back into 3rd place again which is the punishment they deserve.

[Pisces]

71. Thank you!!

[tularetom]

36. I smell a rat with a big yellow head

If "office politics" is indeed the cause you don't have to look any further. This POS is the same guy who stabbed Phil Donohue in the back after Donohue's ratings made his look like crap. And it's apparent to anyone who ever watched them working together that he is jealous of Olbermann.

Simply a miserable asshole.

[grasswire]

40. he was looking awfully cheerful the last couple of days

One of my first thoughts when Keith was telling us was: Did Tweety know about this?

I believe he knew, and I believe he intends to capitalize on it. He will be top dog for the SOTU Tuesday now.

[MilesColtrane]

38. Yeah, I don't think you fire the star of your highest rated show...

just because he doesn't go golfing with the network execs.

There is more here than office politics.

[gateley]

52. Ego wars. nt

[Cleita]

42. So he was a prima donna. But at the opera the

management knows not to cross the prima donna because she is the one that makes the box office money. Instead they defer to her as long as she delivers the divine arias. Too bad there were egos in the back offices as well who don't realize it's stupid to kill the golden goose. To tell the truth I never liked Olbermann when he was a sportscaster because he came across to me as a swell headed smart ass. It was when he showed the depth of his intellect and gift with words on his Countdown show that he won me over. I was also a big fan of Maria Callas, who was fired by the Met, but that's another story.

[jwirr]

43. KO gave us the meat - Rachel provided desert and we sometimes

were too full for any of LO's offering. I often did not watch him. Has none of the fire and loyalty to the cause that KO has.

[socialist_n_TN]

72. "....fire and loyalty to the cause...." And THAT my friend...................

is why KO is gone and the rest of them are still there. For now. The difference between Keith and Rachael was stylistic, but style is a big part of what went down, IMO. Keith's style was PASSION with facts. Rachel's style is more analytical with facts. And the fact is, in 2011 American politics, PASSION, no matter which side it's on, plays better with the masses than the analytic style.

KO's style is better at influencing the proletariat than anybody else on the left today. That's why the RW hated him SO much and that's why the PTB pushed him out. Notice that Keith was never on the Sunday talk shows even though he deals with fact just as much as Rachel does? The bosses are OK with showing passion from the Right, but NOT the left.

[jwirr]

73. Certainly. Ed has that passion also for the worker. My guess is he is

next.

[socialist_n_TN]

74. That's my take, yes. Ed is next..........

They can shout down analysis. It's harder to shout down passion.

[WinkyDink]

44. Please.

[highplainsdem]

45. I don't believe it. This is a story designed to protect MSNBC and Comcast,

and the ratings of other MSNBC hosts, who are likely to lose viewers who blame MSNBC/Comcast for Keith's departure. "Blame Keith -- don't blame us!"

As I posted elsewhere, another NBC Universal departure reported two days ago had everything to do with Comcast meddling for the past several weeks, and the incoming Comcast exec feeling freed to take a more active role this week, even though not yet officially in control. There's no particular reason to believe that isn't happening in the news division as well as the entertainment division. Especially given Comcast's history of firing a liberal critical of Bill O'Reilly.

[tridim]

46. Every one of these "you're wrong" articles fails to note that MSNBC IS Comcast.

They all assume they are two separate companies, which is completely wrong.

[HeroTwins]

48. the reason Rachel has good ratings is because she came on before Countdown

O'Donnell was just an Olbermann substitute.

They will see a dramatic drop in the viewing of both Countdown and the RMS as a result of this move.

[coolhip33]

66. Don't you mean she came on AFTER Countdown?

[fishwax]

54. Olbermann certainly has a reputation as a difficult employee

At ESPN, at MSNBC the first time around, at Fox Sports, and so on ...

I'd like to hear what Keith has to say about the situation. It seems quite clear that there was negotiating going on. KO isn't exactly shy about sharing his feelings, so if he was fired we'll hear about it soon enough. (Also, if he were simply fired as opposed to negotiating an exit, I don't think they could hold him to any non-compete clauses.) But I think the idea that he had a role in getting out of that situation is certainly plausible.

[EFerrari]

55. The thing is, it's not unusual for people who project such a compellng presence

on stage to have a huge ego. The two go together. So, when people say "Keith was difficult", it's a little like saying, the sun came up again, imo.

[fishwax]

56. yeah, that's true -- and KO has himself acknowledged that he's often been difficult to work with

It's part of what makes him successful and it's part of what's made his most recent show successful. It's also what makes his nearly-eight-year stint with Countdown the longest of his career.

I look forward to seeing what he does next.

[EFerrari]

58. Me, too. This could be an op for him to go out of the box a little.

He's got a huge draw, not hurting for cash and is connected to a bunch of talent.

[tpsbmam]

60. I've watched Keith Olbermann. Lawrence O'Donnell, you're no Keith Olbermann.

I watched O'Donnell's show a couple of times. Blech. Not for me. It was more like Hardball in that he brought on Republicans to debate. I really, really hate listening to those assholes. It's one of the things that turned me off to Hardball and was one of the things I found unappealing about O'Donnell's show. That time of day is my snuggle in and get comfy time of day. I don't want to listen to fucking Republicans spouting their shit.

On top of that, O'Donnell just ain't Keith. Frankly, O'Donnell bores me much of the time. Keith NEVER bored me!

I get Keith's & Rachel's podcasts because I miss the shows pretty often. I'll just stick to Rachel's podcasts and the hell with the rest of it. (I hear Ed on the radio pretty often.)

[bluestateguy]

61. I think Olberman owes us a little more of an explanation

After many years of loyal fanship, he owes it to us to tell us more. Was it office politics? Or the new Comcast overlords?

[coolhip33]

67. Most likely he can not discuss it per terms of the terminated contract

Hence we will have to gain clues from Thurber stories!!!! =)

[UTUSN]

70. Mediaite/DanABRAMS, Keith's arch enemy... n/t