The NBC announcement that they've kept Keith Olbermann as the erratic quarterback of their anti-Bush offense came larded in praise. First, the NBC News press release:
"Keith Olbermann is a tremendous talent and a superb broadcaster," said NBC News President Steve Capus. "He is an asset to NBC News and the timing of this announcement couldn't be better given the momentum Keith's program is enjoying right now."
A compelling hour of nightly news, delivered with Olbermann's particular wit and style, "Countdown" takes a fast paced look at the top five news stories of the day – from politics to pop culture and from the mainstream to the oddball. The program has enjoyed particular success in the past year, finishing the month of January with an average of 283,000 viewers in the adult demographic (25-54) and 715,000 total viewers, up +89% and +85% respectively, over a year ago.
"I've been overwhelmed by the support for this newscast, both inside NBC, and among our remarkable viewers," said Olbermann. "I'm delighted we can continue 'Countdown,' and continue to try to hold politicians and other newsmakers accountable for what they are doing, or not doing."
Then Brian Stelter at TVNewser offers nuggets of detail of the conference call with Steve Capus:
-- "When you look at what the program Countdown has done at MSNBC, it has really been the centerpiece for the resurgence and the real growth at MSNBC, this makes all the sense in the world."
-- Capus says Olbermann's Nightly News essays will be "produced stories that would fit in naturally with Nightly News." He cited Olbermann's work in the wake of the Pope's death as an example.
-- Is Capus concerned about linking Olbermann to NBC at a time when commentators like Bill O'Reilly frequently accuse the net of a liberal bias? He says: "I believe that the viewers are sophisticated enough to know what messages are being offered to them, and the viewers have spoken on this by the ratings performance on MSNBC."
In other words, liberal messaging sells.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
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Please pass the barf bag . .
February 15, 2007 - 14:31 ET by NoMoreClintonsPlease pass the barf bag . . .
...you can just use OLBY'S DR
February 15, 2007 - 15:30 ET by TruthMonger...you can just use OLBY'S DROOL BUCKET : ) !
To be fair, you certainly mus
February 15, 2007 - 14:43 ET by LeonTo be fair, you certainly must find Keith Olbermann compelling, otherwise there wouldn't be posts every single day detailing his escapades on Newsbusters.
Granted you surely disagree with him vehemently, but you clearly find him 'compelling'. Perhaps just for a different reason than libs.
As compelling as a thorn in o
February 15, 2007 - 14:52 ET by NoMoreClintonsAs compelling as a thorn in one's side - nothing more.
compelling nonetheless...
February 15, 2007 - 14:56 ET by Leoncompelling nonetheless...
Olbermann wouldn't even be a blip on my radar screen if it wasn't for Newsbusters.
This seems to be the only place he ever gets any coverage.
"compelling..." Just curious
February 15, 2007 - 15:09 ET by PeskyDaneLeon, Olbermann is covered at NB because that is what NB does.
February 15, 2007 - 15:31 ET by acaiguanaLeon, Olbermann is covered at NB because that is what NB does.
"...otherwise there wouldn't be posts every single day detailing his escapades on Newsbusters."
I think if you review NB's Blog Posts, you will find most of the MSM is covered. Some of it is 'compelling' and some of it is 'disgusting' (my quotes).
Anyway, MSNBC's pride over their ratings is funny, don'tcha think?
...
Hillary Clinton says: "I want to take those profits."
Hi, Hater!
February 15, 2007 - 15:39 ET by Roger the ShrubberLeon, I think the operative w
February 15, 2007 - 16:53 ET by Tim GrahamLeon, I think the operative word is not "compelling," but "compulsory." It's our job to note obnoxious liberal fulmination on supposedly objective "news" channels.
"I believe that the viewers a
February 15, 2007 - 14:43 ET by Matthew Sheffield"I believe that the viewers are sophisticated enough to know what messages are being offered to them, and the viewers have spoken on this by the ratings performance on MSNBC."
Actually, they speak louder by their tuning in to FNC in far greater numbers.
"Keith Olbermann is a tremend
February 15, 2007 - 14:49 ET by NoMoreClintons"Keith Olbermann is a tremendous talent and a superb broadcaster,"
Actually, he is neither. If he is so superb, pray tell, why wasn't there a bidding war for his "services" among the other MSM when his contract with NBC expired. This sorry ex-sportscaster, who couldn't make it in sports and is now masquerading as a newsman, re-upped with the peacocks because nobody else wanted his sorry behind. And yes, his show continues to languish in very last place at 8pm so far behind O'Reilly that it's pitiful. People vote with their remotes and guess what, Keith? You lose.
if the ratings have risen tha
February 15, 2007 - 15:14 ET by buddycif the ratings have risen that much you really can't blame msnbc can you?
i never watch nbc or msnbc so i don't have to listen to the jerk. occasionally i get him on espn radio but i no longer will listen to espn radio. i don't even watch my favorite sporting events that nbc has the exclusive right to broadcast. first chrisie limpdick mathews and now olberman. that channel never gets a chance to be watched on any of the tv's in my house.
olberman is an ass in his show. i understand from those that know him on a personal level that he is an ass.
sometimes people like to watch asses. i can't do much about it but worry about the mental condition of people in this country who might watch him.
I went over to TVNewser and p
February 15, 2007 - 15:20 ET by Dave in TexasI went over to TVNewser and pulled the numbers for Keith's best day (Feb 7) so far in February (Feb 1 through Feb 13):
Total Viewers:
O'Reilly 8:00 pm - 2,662,000
O'Reilly 11:00 pm - 1,125,000
Olbermann 8:00 pm - 912,000
25-54 demographic:
O'Reilly 8:00 pm - 582,000
O'Reilly 11:00 pm - 346,000
Olbermann 8:00 pm - 352,000
This is terrific news..
February 15, 2007 - 15:20 ET by DeepSouthFarRightThe more people that have access to that lunatic, the better. The best way to defeat these moonbats is to make sure as many average Americans as possible hear them. So I say, go ahead NBC, expose the rest of America to Keefy.
Olbermann
February 15, 2007 - 18:29 ET by SanityClauseI agree completely!
It will be interesting to see if he drags down the ratings for the NBC evening news. When viewers get into the mode of questioning KO's credibility, will they continue on then to question David Gregory and the others also?
In other words, liberal messa
February 15, 2007 - 20:30 ET by GalvanicIn other words, liberal messaging sells.
Well, it sells to niche markets, which is what cable programming is aimed at. MSNBC's reported growth may be among the demographic that Air America had hoped to attract, but failed. Like any demogogue, Olbermann attracts a liberal audience that enjoys 'in-your-face' political dialogue.
NBC, however, can't appeal to just a niche. Broadcast media need big numbers, requiring that NBC to appeal to a much broader audience, and Olbermann-esque tirades on an evening news broadcast merely drives viewers away from the broad audience. In other words, to hold or even grow market share, NBC will have to offer a much sedated Olbermann than the cartoon character appearing on MSNBC.
What MSNBC 'growth'? The on
February 15, 2007 - 21:40 ET by kathleenirishWhat MSNBC 'growth'? The only 'growth' I can think of for this ratings-starved joke of a cable-"news" outlet is akin to a tumor or cancer. What alternate universe have we been transported to where the worse your ratings are, the more likely you are to stay ON the air? Crazy.
"He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere" -Ali ibn-Abi-Talib, 4th Islamic Caliph