NEW YORK — Keith Olbermann is bringing his liberal commentary to Current TV, the Emmy-winning channel launched by Al Gore announced Tuesday.
Olbermann will executive produce and host a nightly prime-time news show, scheduled to begin airing later this year. He will also serve as the company’s Chief News Officer and will have an equity stake in Current Media.
The news comes less than a month after Olbermann’s abrupt departure from MSNBC, where he hosted his popular "Countdown" show.
"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," said Olbermann. "In Current, 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."
Current TV, which Gore launched in 2005 with Joel Hyatt, is available in 60 million homes in the U.S.
"Keith Olbermann is a gifted thinker, an amazing talent and a powerful communicator, and having him tap Current as his new home is exciting and very much in line with the core vision we founded this network on: To engage viewers with smart, provocative and timely programming," the former Vice President Gore said of the hiring. "In a world where there are fewer and fewer opportunities to hear truly distinct, unfettered voices on television, we are delighted to provide Keith with the independent platform and freedom that Current can, and does uniquely offer."
