Staying Current: Olbermann Returns To TV

• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, April 26, 2011

Keith Olbermann, set to serve as the anchor -- in more ways than one -- in Current TV's strategy to grow visibility, will make his debut June 20 in the prime-time lead-off spot. His week-nightly show, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," will air at 8 p.m.

Olbermann has been off the air since leaving MSNBC, after years of offering left-leaning commentary. Current, where Olbermann is the chief news officer, has much less distribution than the NBCUniversal channel. Current is in about 60 million U.S. homes, versus MSNBC's 100 million homes.

When the announcement was made that Olbermann would be moving to Current -- where former Vice President Al Gore has a stake -- he stated: "Nothing is more vital to a free America than a free media, and nothing is more vital to my concept of a free media than news produced independently of corporate interference."

Joel Hyatt, one of Current's founders, stated that Olbermann will "be back, speaking truth to power."

Current chief Mark Rosenthal added that a heavy digital presence will be created for Olbermann.

Olbermann's show will serve as a lead-in for a new documentary-style show airing in the 9 p.m. slot. "4th and Forever" focuses on a Long Beach, Calif. high school with a venerated athletic program, but suffering from other issues, partly due to its location.