Longtime NBC Washington correspondent Chip Reid is leaving the network, and the rumor is he's going over to CBS News. Reid has been covering politics for the network for several years.
And that's not the only news for NBC. MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann is getting some airtime on NBC. The show will air before this Sunday's pre-season game between the Eagles vs. the Steelers. This probably won't be a regular thing, but Olbermann is going to be part of the network's Football Night In America show on Sunday nights, and NBC Senior Vice President Phil Griffin says that Olbermann might do more on the network.
The ratings for Olbermann's show have soared, and maybe NBC is using this as an extra kick in the pants to see if viewers will follow the show over to MSNBC the following night.
[via TV Newser]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-20-2007 @ 5:05PM
const said...
"The ratings for Olbermann's show have soared"
Really? Compared to what.
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8-20-2007 @ 3:52PM
Larry said...
Thank you for this information. Now I know that I won't ever be watching 'Football Night in America'.
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8-20-2007 @ 4:37PM
J. MacKay said...
Olbermann's ratings have soared???? Riiiiggghhtt. I guess it's not hard to double your ratings when so few watch in the first place. Does he even have 6 figures in viewers yet?
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8-21-2007 @ 1:54PM
Diane said...
Finally--the man who speaks for Americans makes it into the mainstream! Keith Olbermann has brought a sense of excitement to news and specifically, to editorial comments, that I haven't felt in many years. He makes you realize that you aren't the only person who's seething mad about this administration.
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8-20-2007 @ 6:53PM
TVGenius said...
Why is CBS taking all the crappy NBC people? Ick. Who's next, Lester?
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8-20-2007 @ 7:18PM
Dawn said...
I LOVE how all the O'Reilly-worshipping, right wing conservatives are so threatened by Olbermann that they are trying to downplay his enormous and ever growing success. Everyone I know has turned onto Keith and thinks he's great.
Rave away. As for me, I'm looking forward to splitting my sides again the next time he makes mincemeat out of BillO
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8-21-2007 @ 12:00AM
hessian said...
So what is the new definition of soared?
Audience goes from 1,00 to 2,000 - oooh that's up 100%! It's SOARING!
Pony up some real numbers, Bob. You can't have an opinion about math. The numbers are either there, or they're not - and in this case, they're not.
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8-21-2007 @ 12:24AM
hessian said...
OK, I'll do the research myself.
Here are the prime time cable news numbers from 2/27/07 - in total viewers:
O’Reilly Factor – 2,304,000
Countdown w/ Olbermann – 622,000
Nancy Grace – 555,000
Paula Zahn– 359,000
Fast Money – 291,000
And here are the numbers from 7/30/07:
O’Reilly Factor – 2,344,000 (+2%)
Nancy Grace – 784,000 (+41%)
Countdown w/ Olbermann – 776,000 (+24%)
Paula Zahn Now- 587,000 (+64%)
Fast Money – 225,000 (-23%)
Olby's numbers ARE up, but if he's soaring, what are Grace & Zahn doing?
Truth be told, the big story on cable news right now is the addition of Glenn Beck to HLN. He's improved his slot by over 60% - and he's pulling Grace up with him.
Numbers are courtesy Inside Cable News. (That's called a source.)
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