The Hollywood Reporter | The Atlantic Wire | The New York Times
He'll start after the New Hampshire primary. But first, Olbermann is taking a previously scheduled vacation, "which he perplexingly scheduled during one of the biggest political news weeks of the year so far," writes The Atlantic Wire's Adam Clark Estes. The Times' David Carr describes some of the technical problems at Current but notes that Olbermann has an ownership stake in the company and helped choose the studio. "He is a part of the management team, and you generally don’t get to rail against the Man if the Man is you," Carr writes.

The Hollywood Reporter | The New York Times | The Wrap
A lawyer for Keith Olbermann tells The Hollywood Reporter the anchor is in talks with Current about "his role with the network." Olbermann's "Countdown" aired on Wednesday, just one day after Iowa Caucus coverage revealed tension between the former MSNBC anchor and his current employer. Olbermann says he "was not given a legitimate opportunity to host" Caucus coverage "under acceptable conditions," while Current president David Bohrman says he was. Olbermann's title is chief news officer, but it's unclear how much authority he has over coverage. The New York Times reports Michael Price, Olbermann's manager, "expected that Mr. Olbermann would stay at Current," but "said he was unable to answer other questions because of confidentiality clauses in the anchorman's contract, which is believed to last five years and be worth $50 million total." One unnamed Current exec told The Wrap, "I hope Keith is part of our future, but it's up to Keith ... everybody is replaceable." "Countdown" is Current's most popular program, but its viewership is, at best, about 20 percent of the audience it commanded on MSNBC, whose 8 p.m. ratings have fallen since Olbermann's exit a year ago.

Washington Post
Keith Olbermann "picked up right where he left off when he and MSNBC abruptly parted ways five months ago," writes Hank Stuever. He asks: "Does Olbermann mean for all his guests to be male (John Dean; Politico reporter Kenneth Vogel; Moore; Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas)?" || Alessandra Stanley (NYT): Olbermann bizarrely noted that he isn't the only person to start a new career on June 20 -- Queen Victoria began her reign on the same day. || Tim Molloy (The Wrap): Olbermann joins the long list of people who do more harm to their cause than good. || Eric Deggans (St. Pete Times): "This should be a show I love a lot more than I do." || David Zurawik (Baltimore Sun): "An impressive premiere" -- for the first 58 minutes.

Romenesko Misc. | Politico.com | Deadline.com
David Shuster will be guest host when Keith Olbermann is unable to be in-studio, says a release. Show regulars will include Matt Taibbi, John Dean, Heather McGhee, Jeremy Scahill, Donald Sutherland and other "notable policy-makers, thought leaders, journalists, comedians, activists and other progressive voices." || Politico.com: Olbermann, Glenn Beck start over on smaller, riskier TV platforms. || "We're in this for the long haul," says Olbermann. || "The Current TV release is after the jump. (more...)

Romenesko Misc.
At MSNBC, David Sarosi produced two "Countdown" segments -- the program "open" with its signature question ‘Which of these stories will you be talking about tomorrow?’ and "Worst Persons in the World." Keith Olbermann says Sarosi is "intimately familiar with every other aspect of the production, and from his start with the show he has had both the vision, and the view of the playing field, critical for an Executive Producer." || More "Countdown" appointments are after the jump.

(more...)

New York Times
Keith Olbermann's one-hour news and commentary show debuts sometime in the spring. He'll also become Current TV's chief news officer. "Current is betting on Olbermann to put it on the cable map - and it needs the help," writes Brian Stelter. "The channel averages just 23,000 viewers in prime time each night."

New York Times
Keith Olbermann is announcing his plans at 11 a.m. ET Tuesday, but the Times hears he has "a possible deal" with Current TV that includes an equity stake in the cable network. || More from TVNewser.com.
> Wallenstein: Why Olbermann makes sense for Current TV

Chicago Tribune
With some prodding, Tom Brokaw tells Phil Rosenthal that MSNBC will do just fine without Keith Olbermann. "All of our component parts - NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC - are much bigger than one player, and I include myself in that," he says. "If I went away tomorrow, NBC News would still be the dominant news division in America. There ain't none of us who is irreplaceable."