Did Keith Olbermann Bolt MSNBC to Create Media Empire?

[EV_Ares]

t was Keith Olbermann's decision to leave his high-profile perch at MSNBC, TheWrap has learned. The outspoken host abruptly announced his departure on Friday evening, sending shockwaves through the cable news world.

But the sudden departure has a history, and the timing does not rule out a preemptive MSNBC move. The gadfly commentator first told the network last April that he wanted to leave and began negotiating his exit then, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation.

Olbermann abandoned the notion of leaving at that time but revived his plans in recent weeks with new representation from the talent agency ICM.

With two years left on his $7 million-a-year contract, Olbermann was seeking a full exit package but he really has his eye on creating his own media empire in the style of Huffington Post, according to the individual. That way, Olbermann would control his own brand and, in his view, potentially earn far more as an owner.

Also Read: Olbermann Fill-In: Host Worried His 'Wings Would Be Clipped' Under New Management

On Friday, Olbermann informed viewers that he had been told that "this was going to be the last edition" of “Countdown,” which suggested that the departure was not voluntary. The host offered no more information.

Neither did MSNBC.

Link: http://bit.ly/hzbWi9

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. I was hoping the WH was eyeing him for some sort of position, but his frankness

and forthright manner could be a problem for them.

[Cleita]

2. You have to be a pretty good

bull shitter for that. Watch some episodes of the West Wing and see how CJ manipulated the press. Keith is not a bull shitter but shoots straight from the hip. He wouldn't last a week.

[sallyseven]

3. So now it is his fault.

Such BS. He was not right wing enough for MSNBC. They like o'liely and the other fool. I will not watch MSNBC anymore. I will watch movies and keep my blood pressure down.

[MadMaddie]

4. We do need a Ted Turner type no doubt about it

I could see Keith creating an environment where we could view facts, accurate history etc...