Editing Countdown with Keith Olbermann (section)

===Current TV period===
On February 8, Olbermann announced that he had been hired as the host of a new primetime show on Current TV, the cable television network founded by former vice president [[Al Gore]] and businessman [[Joel Hyatt]]; in April it was announced that the show would retain the ''Countdown'' title. Olbermann also became Current TV's "Chief News Officer" and bought an [[equity stake]] in the network.<ref>[http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/keith-olbermann-to-host-show-and-have-executive-role-at-current-tv/ For Current TV, Adding Olbermann Is Way to Gain an Identity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711042108/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/keith-olbermann-to-host-show-and-have-executive-role-at-current-tv/ |date=2011-07-11 }}, ''The New York Times'', 8 February 2011</ref> On May 11, Olbermann announced that ''[[Daily Kos]]'' founder [[Markos Moulitsas]], filmmakers [[Michael Moore]] and [[Ken Burns]], and comedian [[Richard Lewis (comedian)|Richard Lewis]] would become contributors to the new ''Countdown''.<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/michael-moore-ken-burns-tapped-as-contributors-for-keith-olbermanns-current-tv-show_b65978 Michael Moore, Ken Burns Tapped as Contributors for Keith Olbermann's Current TV Show] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628230419/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/michael-moore-ken-burns-tapped-as-contributors-for-keith-olbermanns-current-tv-show_b65978 |date=2011-06-28 }}, ''TVNewser'', 11 May 2011</ref> During a June 16 interview on [[NBC]]'s ''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'', Olbermann further announced that journalists [[Matt Taibbi]] and [[Jeremy Scahill]], former Nixon administration official and author [[John Dean]], actor [[Donald Sutherland]], and astronomer [[Derrick Pitts]] would also be contributors.<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/keith-olbermann-adds-contributors-to-countdown-on-current-talks-rachel-maddow-on-nbc_b71930 Keith Olbermann Adds Contributors to 'Countdown' on Current, Talks Rachel Maddow on NBC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623025637/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/keith-olbermann-adds-contributors-to-countdown-on-current-talks-rachel-maddow-on-nbc_b71930 |date=2011-06-23 }}, ''TVNewser'', 17 June 2011</ref>

On June 20, ''Countdown'' debuted on Current TV, concluding with an abbreviated "Special Comment" in which Olbermann outlined his [[mission statement]], quoting [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]]. The program drew 179,000 viewers, a significant increase from Current TV's typical 30,000 
viewership; it drew more viewers than [[CNN]] in the key 25-54 audience demographic.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-olbermanns-countdown-beats-cnn-203877 Keith Olbermann's 'Countdown' Beats CNN in Target Demo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013050/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-olbermanns-countdown-beats-cnn-203877 |date=2020-11-12 }}, ''The Hollywood Reporter'', 21 June 2011</ref> ''Countdown'' continued to beat CNN in the 25-54 demo throughout its first week on Current TV.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/first-week-current-keith-olbermann-206234 In First Week on Current, Keith Olbermann Beats CNN in Target Demo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021112121/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/first-week-current-keith-olbermann-206234 |date=2020-10-21 }}, ''The Hollywood Reporter'', 28 June 2011</ref> ''Countdown'' saw a drop in ratings in its second week, but sustained an audience of 310,000 total viewers by September.<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/countdown-on-current-tv-drops-in-week-two_b74824 'Countdown' on Current TV Drops in Week Two] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513135655/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/countdown-on-current-tv-drops-in-week-two_b74824 |date=2012-05-13 }}, ''TVNewser'', 6 June 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/keith-olbermanns-countdown-gets-highest-ratings-since-current-tv-debut_b83570 Keith Olbermann's 'Countdown' Gets Highest Ratings Since Current TV Debut] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221081735/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/keith-olbermanns-countdown-gets-highest-ratings-since-current-tv-debut_b83570 |date=2012-02-21 }}, ''TVNewser'', 1 September 2011</ref> The show was taped at [[NEP Broadcasting|NEP Studio 33]].

For the first two weeks of its Current TV run, ''Countdown'' ran slightly longer than an hour at sixty-three minutes in a covert effort to erode MSNBC's viewership. However, Olbermann changed his mind and reverted the running time to the usual sixty minutes, realizing the move "would only serve to annoy fans of" both ''Countdown'' and Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show while doing nothing to improve the ratings for his own program.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/06/olbermanns-show-tweaks-msnbc-on-twitter.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Company Town | date=June 30, 2011 | access-date=June 30, 2011 | archive-date=July 3, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703070233/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/06/olbermanns-show-tweaks-msnbc-on-twitter.html | url-status=live }}</ref> By the fall of 2011, Olbermann came into conflict with Current TV management over production values and creative control and nearly left the network.<ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/02/05/is-keith-olbermann-the-last-hope-for-gore-s-current-tv.html Al Gore's Desperate Bid to Keep Keith Olbermann—and Save Current TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401063355/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/02/05/is-keith-olbermann-the-last-hope-for-gore-s-current-tv.html |date=2012-04-01 }}, ''The Daily Beast'', 6 February 2012</ref>

====Second cancellation====
On March 30, 2012, Current TV terminated its contract with Olbermann, thereby cancelling ''Countdown'' for a second time.<ref name="politico.com"/> In its statement, Current TV cited Olbermann's implied lack of "respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers." Internal sources reported that Olbermann's repeated absences, his failure to promote Current TV, and disparaging public comments he had made about the network contributed to the decision to fire him.<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/03/30/456104/current-tv-fires-keith-olbermann/ Current TV Fires Keith Olbermann, Replaces Him With Spitzer Immediately, Olbermann to Sue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331152836/http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/03/30/456104/current-tv-fires-keith-olbermann/ |date=2012-03-31 }}, ThinkProgress, 30 March 2012</ref> Olbermann called Current TV's claims "untrue" and sued the network for [[breach-of-contract]], demanding $50 million in damages.<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2012/0331/Acid-tongued-broadcaster-Keith-Olbermann-gets-the-boot-from-Al-Gore-s-Current-TV Acid-tongued broadcaster Keith Olbermann gets the boot from Al Gore's Current TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401154844/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2012/0331/Acid-tongued-broadcaster-Keith-Olbermann-gets-the-boot-from-Al-Gore-s-Current-TV |date=2012-04-01 }}, ''The Christian Science Monitor'', 31 March 2012</ref> A counter-suit by Current TV cited Olbermann's work absences, as well as his allegedly abusive treatment of executives and staff.<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/current-tv-counter-sues-keith-olbermann_b120785 Current TV Counter-Sues Keith Olbermann] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419042443/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/current-tv-counter-sues-keith-olbermann_b120785 |date=2012-04-19 }}, TVNewser.com, 6 April 2012</ref> In March 2013, Olbermann and Current TV reached a settlement, with Olbermann receiving an undisclosed amount.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/03/13/keith-olbermann-settles-50-million-lawsuit-against-current-tv/ Keith Olbermann Settles $50 Million Lawsuit Against Current TV and Al Gore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601235648/http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/03/13/keith-olbermann-settles-50-million-lawsuit-against-current-tv/ |date=2016-06-01 }}, ''Forbes'', 13 March 2013</ref>

On April 3, 2012, Olbermann appeared on [[CBS]]'s ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' and voiced concern for his viewers and the production crew on ''Countdown'', stating: "I screwed up. I screwed up really big on this." Olbermann referred to production issues, in-fighting, and key absences during political events as the primary reasons Current TV decided to pull ''Countdown'' from the network lineup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/04/keith-olbermann-admits-i-screwed-up-/1|title=Keith Olbermann admits 'I screwed up really big on this'|website=Usatoday.com|access-date=8 March 2022|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308180252/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/04/keith-olbermann-admits-i-screwed-up-/1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/04/03/keith-olbermann-on-letterman-i-screwed-up-really-big/|title=Keith Olbermann on Letterman: 'I screwed up really big'|author=Lynette Rice|website=Ew.com|access-date=8 March 2022|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308174747/https://ew.com/article/2012/04/03/keith-olbermann-on-letterman-i-screwed-up-really-big/|url-status=live}}</ref>