Comcast and Keith Olbermann

With Comcast taking over NBC, viewers may see a gradual change in the way MSNBC tastes. We don't know whether the new management has anything to do with the departure of Keith Olbermann, nor whether there were any ultimatums that led to the abrupt separation of Olbermann and MSNBC. We will have a hard time with those facts, especially considering how tight-lipped Rachel Maddow seemed to be on the Bill Maher Show the same day Keith Olbermann announced, with a noticeable tremble, his leaving MSNBC.

We can speculate (if there is any connection to the new Comcast ownership) that we could see a change in the way MSNBC does business. I doubt it will turn into a Fox News twin in terms of "leanings;" however, there's no reason to believe it might not find subtle ways to slide a more moderate, you know, more comprimising brand into its broadcast.

Comcast has been accused of manipulating channel lineups across the country in a way that thwarts MSNBC and favors Fox. In 2008, the Daily Kos wrote an article entitled, "Comcast Cancels MSNBC, Keeps Fox News," about a stint that happened in Pittsburgh. In 2009 Comcast had been accused of charging more for MSNBC, but keeping Fox News in the starting channels. In fact, Comcast had similar accusations in many locations.

Comcast does not claim to have fired Keith Olbermann, and they cannot be charged with doing so in a conspiracy effort to subdue liberal media viewers, but with Olbermann off the air at the newly Comcast owned NBC, it's plausible to consider a shift toward more conservative, or at least moderate political entertainment. On the flip side, Keith Olbermann marked Glenn Beck as one of the "World's Worst" in November of 2010 for saying, "MSNBC is marked for death. If it is sold to Comcast, Comcast will run it like a business." Beck went on to say, "...it won't feature Keith Olbermann." With people talking conspiracy theories about Comcast firing Keith Olbermann, Comcast is in a bit of a rumor-sparked pickle. Another odd ball theory could be that Keith Olbermann quit on his very own terms.