Olbermann Headed to Gore's Current TV

Lefty talker left NBC last month

Left-wing TV talker Keith Olbermann, who abruptly left NBC last month, is about to resurface at a cable network headed by Al Gore.

Olbermann, 52, will join Gore's Current TV, reported The New York Times. The former host of "Countdown," who first rose to prominence as a sportscaster, will have a nightly prime-time news and commentary show. He will also serve as chief news officer and get an equity stake in the network, which was established by Gore ad businessman Joel Hyatt.

“In Current Media, Al Gore and Joel Hyatt have created the model truth-seeking entity,” Olbermann said in a statement. “The opportunity to partner with Al, Joel and Mark Rosenthal makes this the most exciting venture in my career.”

Current TV has struggled with low ratings and is only available in about 60 million homes nationwide.

Olbermann left NBC just ahead of Comcast's takeover of the network, though officials said the two developments were unrelated. Olbermann, whose show drew about one million viewers per night, has long been known in the industry for being abrasive though his show had a loyal following.

One of his last run-ins with NBC management involved his making political donations to congressional candidates in violation of network policy. He drew a brief suspension for his actions.

Selected Reading: The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Current TV.

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