Dan Patrick to Join NBC's Football Night

He has almost no allies left, and some predict he'll walk

(NEWSER) - Keith Olbermann's battle with MSNBC is far from over, despite the fact that the network returned him to the air just days after suspending him for making undisclosed political donations . In the Daily Beast , Howard Kurtz takes us inside the tense relations between Olbermann and MSNBC, which have spilled over into NBC News and left him with no allies save Rachel Maddow—and which could result, some theorize, in Olbermann walking away. Sources use words like "narcissistic" and "hypocrisy" when talking about Olbermann and his response; even Tom Brokaw has reportedly weighed in, blaming Olbermann for damaging MSNBC's reputation. More»

'Countdown' host appears to breach NBC ethics rules

(NEWSER) - Keith Olbermann donated $2,400—the maximum individual contribution—apiece to three Democrats before Election Day, apparently breaking NBC rules, Politico reports. The MSNBC host, who has acknowledged the contributions, gave to two Arizona representatives the day one of them, Raul Grijalva, stopped by his show (the other was Gabrielle Giffords); he also gave to failed Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway. Like many news outlets, NBC bans its employees from giving to campaigns. More»

As anchors fawn, foreign athletes described with 'hoary cliches'

(NEWSER) - Shaun White may be introducing new tricks during these Games, but NBC’s coverage of him, and Team USA in general, remains an unchanged lesson in "network heavy breathing," writes Alessandra Stanley. “Hyped-up commentators” explain the action “often incomprehensibly,” but once the race is over the cameras are “instantaneously intrusive.” Take Lindsey Vonn’s moment with her husband after her downhill win. Touching, yes, but also like a “convict trying to talk to a visiting spouse.” More»

(NEWSER) - If you're reading this with an NCAA tournament game streaming live in another browser tab, you're in good company: In 2008, nearly 5 million people watched March Madness online, reports the Chicago Tribune. The tipping point between novelty and mainstay came 4 years ago, when CBS made access free, setting an example that revolutionized online sports coverage. More»

Blogger calls for Matthews, Olbermann to keep their jobs

(NEWSER) - David Gregory will be the face of MSNBC's election coverage, and the ouster of "loud shouty people" Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews isn't sitting well with at least one viewer. "It's a stupid, stupid idea, for many reasons," Alex Pareene writes on Gawker of NBC Universal's decision. "If people wanted Brian Williams and David Gregory to cover everything quietly and politely they'd actually watch your evening news." More»