In the 36 hours since the surprise announcement that MSNBC fired Keith Olbermann, his abrupt exit from a network he helped transform has raised questions.
Why fire a guy with such undisputed value to the network, a figure who – love him or hate him – became one of the best-known figures of the cable news era?
Insiders say no single event got him axed, but for all his eloquence, on-air presence and broadcasting skill, Olbermann was just too difficult to work with.
According to the Washington Post, Olbermann often clashed with his employers, condemning – often publicly – directives with which he has disagreed.
Comcast’s recent takeover of NBC merely marked the final straw in a long-brewing deterioration between the top brass and the iconoclastic, mercurial pundit.
Neither side was talking about the events that led Olbermann to announce his exit on his show Friday, but a divorce appeared to be long in the making.
His short-lived and bizarre suspension in November for campaign contributions that violated company policy was perhaps a harbinger of things to come.
So what’s next for him now?
Sources say Olbermann’s agent went to NBC looking for a raise for Keith, claiming he was underpaid (compared to his counterparts) at $7 million per year.
NBC would not pay more money and made clear they felt he was “a loose cannon that could not be controlled.” At that point, it was just a question of when.
According to a person with knowledge of the discussions, the agreement also ties Olbermann to a “non-compete” provision but pays his salary through 2012.
He won’t be allowed to appear on a competing TV network for an undisclosed period, but how long that is (three months, six months, a year) is unclear.
The long and short of it? Keith Olbermann saw the writing on the wall with the new owner of NBC and cut a deal for his exit to give him money and options.
Sources say Olbermann may reappear soon “with a presence on the Internet,” and may return to sports broadcasting or commentary in some capacity.
Don’t expect a return to ESPN, with which Keith parted on terms as bad as these if not worse. But the avid baseball fan could resurface elsewhere.
As for a return to TV, you have to imagine it’s just a matter of time. When the non-compete runs out, someone will take a chance on the lightning rod.
Wherever he ends up, a legion of supporters will surely follow, while a fair number of detractors will continue to delight in his toppling from MSNBC.
Here’s Keith’s final Countdown signoff on Friday night …
