Olbermann's New TV Show Airs Late Spring on CurrentTV

Former MSNBC host and liberal pundit Keith Olbermann joins CurrentTV as both a host and an executive of the new media inspired network. The Olbermann announcement had been expected, having been rumored on the Web for the last couple days, but was not made official until today.

Unlike Olbermann's former employer, CurrentTV is a privately owned cable and satellite network and is co-founded by both former Vice President Al Gore and Joel Hyatt. It is here Olbermann will host an hour-long primetime news and commentary show, which is expected to air late Spring 2011.

The award-winning company appeals to mostly younger viewers which Current Media describes as "affluent, curious, social and connected adults." Current Media boasts a modest 75 million subscribers worldwide and 7 million unique visitors to its website. Their accolades are not limited to two Emmy Awards, the Peabody Award, The Livingston Award and multiple Webby awards.

Olbermann had this to say about his career change, according to Forbes:

"Nothing is more vital to a free America than a free media, and nothing is more vital to my concept of a free media than news produced independently of corporate interference. In Current Media, Al Gore and Joel Hyatt have created the model truth-seeking entity. The opportunity to partner with Al, Joel and Mark Rosenthal makes this the most exciting venture in my career."

Following the sudden departure from his show "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," in January, there has been much speculation on Olbermann's future. The mercurial pundit left NBC on tense terms with key management, but also retained his fan support.

Mediate reports that, according to CNN's Reliable Sources, "Olbermann had been quite moved by the outpouring of support that he felt from his suspension, that culminated in over 250,000 signatures on a petition to bring him back to air."

Since his MSNBC departure, Olbermann's increased presence on Twitter indicated he was not about to retire or go quietly into the night. Additionally, just recently, Olbermann registered two domain names: TheKeithOlbermannShow.com and TheOlbermannShow.com.

While the Olbermann cache is substantial, his move to non-mainstream media will pose both challenges and opportunities with the underdog network; it is a dynamic platform for the controversial former host of "Countdown" and will provide a progressive platform that complements his politics.

Sources:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/what-is-keith-olbermanns-next-move-we-will-find-out-tomorrow/

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/keith-olbermann-to-host-show-and-have-executive-role-at-current-tv/

http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffbercovici/2011/02/08/keith-olbermann-goes-indie-joining-current-tv/

http://current.com/s/about.htm