I mentioned yesterday as it was a rumor, today it’s a fact. Al Gore says so on his blog.

Keith Olbermann to Host Major New Nightly Primetime News and Commentary Show on Current TV

From Current TV:

“Keith Olbermann, the acclaimed broadcaster and writer whose verbal pyrotechnics and moral passion have outraged, informed, and dazzled viewers of “Countdown With Keith Olbermann” for the past eight years, is bringing his slashing wit, analytical eye, and distinctive commentary to Current Media, the Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning TV and digital media company that was founded in 2005 by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt and is now distributed in more than 75 million households around the world. The news was announced today in New York.”

“In addition to executive producing and hosting a new nightly primetime news and commentary show, Keith Olbermann will also serve as the company’s Chief News Officer and will have an equity stake in Current Media.”

“The new show will air weeknights in primetime beginning later in 2011.”

“Keith Olbermann’s show will lead a programming slate on Current that includes original and acquired TV series aimed at a broad adult audience. Current features compelling stories about everyday heroes and ordinary people in extraordinary situations, and takes you to sometimes dangerous and always intriguing places. Current shines a light on controversial subjects, tackling hot issues of the day in a thoughtful and sometimes humorous way. Current engages its viewers by sparking debate and discussion, and via interactive formats that allow viewers to inform its stories.”

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Read it all in the self aggrandizing press release here. Like I said yesterday, look for Olberman to take his “world’s worst” feature and start using it to bash “deniers”. Mark my word.

Fortunately, Current TV has very little cable penetration, from NYT’s MediaDecoder:

A move to Current TV would challenge Mr. Olbermann’s fans of his MSNBC show — where he drew about a million viewers a night — to follow him to a channel that is considerably less accessible. Current TV is available in only about 60 million homes, and is usually provided only on the digital tier of cable television systems, which requires a separate receiver. MSNBC, which is owned by NBC Universal, is available in 85 million homes and is almost always available as a basic cable entry.

It will be interesting to see advertiser reaction to this move. That will make or break it.

I tuned in just now on channel 358 on DirecTV and they had a bunch of crazed greenies learning how to slaughter chickens on some dreckumentary called Kill it, cook it, eat it: “nuggets”. What a great lead in for Keith!

In related news, I also hear Gore is exploring a new game show concept with these guys:

MIT’s “wheel of climate” – image courtesy Donna Coveney/MIT

/sarc