Countdown on NBC!

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 1:44 PM by Countdown

Official press release after the jump.

SPECIAL EDITION OF "COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" TO AIR ON NBC SUNDAY AUGUST 26 AT 7 PM ET/6 PM CT

SECAUCUS, N.J., August 20, 2007 – MSNBC's Keith Olbermann will bring his unique take on the day's events, from politics to pop culture, to a primetime network audience this Sunday night. A special edition of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" will air on Sunday, August 26th at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on NBC, leading into the network's "Sunday Night Football" pre-season NFL matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers, live at 8 p.m. ET. Olbermann is joining the network's "Football Night in America" studio team this season. The special edition of "Countdown" will be broadcast live from MSNBC's studios.

"Countdown's" network debut comes on the heels of the program's stellar performance this year. According to Nielsen Media Research, the program attracted 721,000 viewers in July, up an incredible 88% over July 2006. "Countdown" continues to be the number two cable news program at 8 p.m. ET, beating CNN by a 20% margin for the year.

"I'm delighted we're getting a chance to show off in a bigger storefront window," said Olbermann. "It's much better than trying to take it door-to-door. I do advise new viewers to sit well back from their screens."

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Comments

Aw, Congratulations!!

KD, Texas (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:47 PM)

I just got home, saw this diary and felt...

relief.

Absolute, unadulterated RELIEF.

Thing are changing. Slowly but surely they are changing.

thejoshuablog.com

Joshua (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:51 PM)

Make that minus two viewers over 60 for 60 Minutes --my mom will be watching KO.

Same here -- we'll call out for Chinese food!

A little Musto won't do the good people of my home state (PA) any harm, either! Go for it.

Hoorah!

dena, nyc (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:13 PM)

This is excellent! I just dumped cable too (the only thing I'm going to miss is Keith). I'd love to be able to get at least a weekly fix.

Let's hope it becomes a regular thing.

Larry Tate, Memphis, TN (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:15 PM)

update me

the waiter (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:15 PM)

I think I'm gonna call into Billo's or Hannity's radio show to see if they heard the good news. Congrats Keith.

Mike, AL (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:25 PM)

Way to go K.O.!

Erik, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:27 PM)

Keith,

Most deserving sir. I have learned a great deal from your show and this blog over my summer break. I have used this site as a source for learning and have been taught extraordinary and life-changing lessons from so many wonderful people here, including you Keith.

Thank you.

Rana, San Pedro, California (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:34 PM)

Keith Olbermann is the most honest commentator on television and extremely courageous. I applaud NBC for this decision. In addition, Olbermann is the best inverviewer on television, one of the few who does not interrupt his guests to air his own views. Great new for all his fans and the many new fans who will be introduced to him.

Disgusted, TX (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:41 PM)

Take that Bill O and shove it where the sun don't shine!
Congratulations Keith and Countdown.I know you will bring fun and color with you and the folks at Countdown.I think Allison Stewart would be great with Keith and a little take on the humorous sports plays of the NFL Day. I know how dopey B.A.
Keith and all you that make the show happen are great.
Congratulations to All of you:)

B.A. Buddusky (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:45 PM)

First the news that Jon Stewart is sending a correspondent to Iraq (who will be performing for troops while there) and now the news about KO hitting the big show! Color me downright giddy!

fortuna, Houston, TX (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 5:57 PM)

while my heart goes out to those folks that don't have cable, i do NOT want KO to go to NBC full time. not, not NOT! "Bill Maher," anybody? Maher's show went prograssively downhill (less funny, less biting, less critical) as his show transitioned from HBO to Comedy Central and then to Network TV. All the depth got drained out of it. I don't want that happening to Countdown.

Networks have more regulations as to what can and cannot be said, and they have more pressure from advertisers. Keith would not have as much to say about what does or does not get said (or even covered) on his show if it goes to NBC full time.

Darci, Chicago IL (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 6:18 PM)

Oh boy, if you think you will be getting anything but some sanitized watered-down version of Countdown when it airs on NBC...(my guess "hard" news, about 6 minutes, fluff 36 mins.)

Jules Palatine, IL (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 6:22 PM)

Be still my heart!!! I'm so proud of Keith and his crew. Countdown is must-see-tv for sure!! Thanks NBC for recognizing how important it is for Keith's message to be sent out over the non-cable airways.

E. Ramirez (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 6:23 PM)

No Musto. Jonathan Alter yes. John Dean yes. And get the general on too. That would be a great lineup, news permitting.

Pete Nehl, Gastonia NC (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 6:38 PM)

Bravo NBC! Finally, you are willing to share Keith with the rest of the world. Congratulations Keith, much deserved! Now, just announce you are running for president, you have my vote!

Kevin Dahlstrom, San Ramon, CA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 6:45 PM)

Keith and Company thanx for all you do for us...Congradulations!!! Beaming proud all the way from Virginia...

Thelma~VA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 6:47 PM)

Finally - we'll get Countdown in high def. Cable news, like baseball, is a game of momentum, and we like the way the KO Express is going.

"One go up. One go down. Do yourself a favor."
The Grateful Dead

Terry Ballard, Merrick, NY (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:18 PM)

Congrats to everyone at the K.O. Show.

I'm hoping for the return of "Guh!" and "Full Extension" during the football show or maybe even during Countdown!

Let's hope "Countdown Sunday" becomes a weekly event.

Clark, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:22 PM)

Keith and the Countdowners...Happy Happy Joy Joy!!!!! It's your turn at the big time, kids! I'm so glad for all of you and I'll be sitting up there nice and close to the screen, warnings be damned! May this only be the beginning of many Countdown shows on NBC...talk about "Must See TV"! I'll spread the word to everyone to be there--aloha!

Tru M., Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:24 PM)

Your the only reason I watch MSNBC,Countdown.Now I'll be watching NBC at 7:ooP.M. to watch my favorite man.
We love you Keith.
SPREAD THE WORD

Loretta Rosa Brooklyn, N.Y. (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:27 PM)

Congrats, Mr. O. As this debut is just prior to football, perhaps you could do a special comment on the shameful treatment of the Tillman family.

Kathy, Grants Pass, OR (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:28 PM)

Congratulations, Keith! I also hope this becomes a trend. Good work to all on Countdown.

Cheri Elliott, Scottsdale, Arizona (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:34 PM)

Hey Keith, maybe have the couple who were arrested in WV for wearing anti-Bush shirts come on the show that night. I bet most of the country did not hear about the "problem" these people ran into. I know they were on earlier tonight with Mike Barnacle (Countdown)but I think the average, non-cable subscribing American will never hear about them. ANY American who values freedom will want to know about what happened to this couple, especially those Americans who are passionately supporting Bush and his war on terror claiming that we are bringing freedom to the people of Iraq. I bet in Iraq they can and do wear anti-Bush shirts without getting arrested!

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:40 PM)

Awesome, Keith! Gotta write quick, Countdown's comin' on!

Dave, Joplin, Missouri (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 7:50 PM)

Yee-hah! Because I don't get MSNBC but I just love the show--or at least the snippets I see on the blogs. My 17 year old psycho cat yowls in approbation.

Helena Montana, Casper, WY (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 8:43 PM)

Congratulations Keith, finally there will be someone on one of the major networks who has the courage to take on the Bush administration and Fox and say what much of America has been thinking for a long time. Maybe NBC has had enough of O'Reilly's attacks.

William M. Brown, Murray, KY (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 9:17 PM)

High fives all around ... congrats to everyone associated with the production of countdown, and thank you for being the voice of the people!

Michael, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 9:24 PM)

Congratulations. I will definitely watch. This is an excellent opportunity to shine, so please make every moment count. Don't spend a single minute on pop culture divas and celebrity gossip. Give us nothing but hard-hitting news. Honor your loyal "Countdown" viewers, and shock newcomers with the truth.

James, New York (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 9:30 PM)

721000 for July , 22 days , let's see...... 32730 a night. Totally embarassing. Get real, O'reilly worried ? Doubt it. A one time SUNDAY event does not a celebrity make. What a joke !

ratings up 88%, ok. If 32000 are watching now, are you telling me less than 10000 were watching ? LOL

Larry Charleston, SC (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 10:38 PM)

I'm not sure if this is a way to spread Keith's wisdom to football fans, or to get liberals hooked on football. Either way, great move NBC!

Dan Smith, Washington, DC (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 10:40 PM)

Assuming my local station doesn't pre-empt it, this will be great - two of my favorite things to watch, back-to-back without having to be bothered changing the channel! Yay!

JAM, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 10:45 PM)

This is going to drive Bill-O nuts! For a long time, MSNBC was pretty much FOX-lite except for you, Keith. Just like FOX was pulling everyone to the right for a while, your influence can now be seen pulling MSNBC out of the FOX orbit. Thanks!

Felice littleton CO (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 10:50 PM)

Yeah! It is nice to see the only voice of reason and sanity in news coverage today get wider exposure!

Kristin Foti (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 11:32 PM)

I'm glad to see more of Keith. I belive he has the best line on today's news by FAR!!!!!!

Jay Marquess (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 12:11 AM)

Great! Olbermann in Primetime. Just one problem. If you live west of, say, Chicagoland or Oklahoma City, this visit with Keith won't take place until sometime AFTER the game. Someone at MSNBC please note this in the promotion.

Locally, our NBC outlet (KING) lists two hours of "Dateline" in the 9-11 pm slot. One of those had better feature that Steve Allen lookalike we all know and love. Hahahahah...Hmmmmm?

Joe Capitano, Anacortes, WA (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 1:24 AM)

My comment regarding Keith's move to NBC, was not shown.
I am disappointed.
And, will simply say; "Good luck, Keith!"

I, too, will be disappointed if NBC doesn't allow you free reign over your news show.

In any case, congratulations!

Ro, CA (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 2:28 AM)

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" - Edmund Burke.

Keep your integrity and help the rest of us do something to triumph.

Thanks.

Portland, Oregon (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 3:49 AM)

Wow, this is terrific! I'll forward this info far and wide. Thank you, Keith Olbermann, for your insightful,intelligent analysis of current events here in the good ol' US of A, and for holding "their" sorry butts to the fire. And thank you, NBC, for waking up to the wonderful resource you have in Keith. (Whatever you're paying him, it's not enough!) Will be watching.

Dorothea Courtwright (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 5:19 AM)

As loyal Keith fans, we are thrilled that our basic NBC friends will now understand what all the buzz is about.
Thank you from five independent thinkers from Chicago.

PJS, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 5:48 AM)

Steve Turner Cedar Falls
Doggone Steve:
Komodo Dragons chase around a bunch of Republicans with Pork Chops on their heads I'd like to see that as part of the half time show complete with the Britney Spears come back performance with Madonna live on stage complete with fire works spelling Countdown in the Sky.GO K.O.!
You really need to hook up with the show for some color or that thing you do??? 1.)& a 2), a & 3) the Lawrence Welk of Posters. A waltz in the News Hole.
Actually I used to be an assistant coach with the Sac High Dragons Football Team, Purple colors.I remember calling down from the booth with a friend of mine who coached as well (former FB )had played with the Saint's when Jim Taylor was there (dating my self now).He owned a pair of Taylors pants from when he played at Green Bay.I don't want go there,never quite got the story of why.
Any the team was very small and after watching one of our corner backs get plastered on a sweep and the score was like 70-0.I called down to the head coach and said find a white towel coach please,he ask for what, I told him I thought it was time to tie it to the yard marker and surrender before someone got killed.There was the laughter he sort of made a move for the equipment bag.
Good luck Keith,bring Dan and Steve on,and Allison and Amy to round it out.What a great pre-game warm up very week!

B.A. Buddusky (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 7:01 AM)

thank you thank you nbc

now have Keith give one of his special comments,especially having presBush & VP Cheney to resign

ira dallas texas (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 1:29 PM)

thank you thank you nbc

now have Keith give one of his special comments,especially having presBush & VP Cheney to resign

ira dallas texas (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 1:29 PM)

Congrats Keith Olbermann!
Whether a one-off, or a test run, I hope those who haven't found you yet see the value of your reporting and cmomments.

Though I'm sure it's crossed your mind, I'll say it anyway, beware the "Tom Snyder Syndrome", your directness is important to many. Good Luck, sir.

Fred Coleman, Riverside, Ca. (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 1:43 PM)

I've been going through cable withdrawl for the last month and have had to catch snippets of your show on my computer.

Thank goodness I have an antenna. It'll be great to see Countdown again. Hopefully, they'll make it the permanent lead in to Sunday Night Football.

But why do I think that in honor of this occasion that Michael Vick will be named the "Worst Person in the World?"

Denise, Philadelphia (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 1:43 PM)

For those of you who gripe that you're being "censored" by this board because of some imagined bias: I posted a *congratulatory* message to KO on this forum several hours ago that never made it to the list. It happens. Get over it.

Niels, down on Bayou DeGradeabelle, Post-Katrina MS (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 1:59 PM)

Niels - so many of my posts are missing I'm wondering whether it's worthwhile posting anything.

Sue, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 2:21 PM)

I just want to add don't change a thing for this show.
Let a national audience find out what we here already know. Countdown Rules Hands Down!!

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 2:43 PM)

Olbermann's Army!

George in Sunnyvale CA (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 3:02 PM)

This is good news. Not sure if Keith will deliever a special comment or maybe tone it down a notch for his first prime time gig.

I'm sure Billo and the rest of the right wing shills are hating it. Heck I'm sure whiny Al Michaels (who is a one too) complained about it privately.

Tim, St. Louis, MO (Sent Tuesday, August 21, 2007 3:33 PM)

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