Keith Olbermann Launches Fok News Channel
Website called the "official not-for-profit blog of Keith Olbermann."
Feb. 27, 2011— -- Two weeks after announcing his one-hour primetime show for Current TV, former MSNBC "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann launched Fok News Channel Friday, a Web site called the "official not-for-profit blog of Keith Olbermann."
Olbermann tweeted an announcement on Tuesday, telling fans that he was "proud" to announce: Coming very very soon - your FOKNewsChannel website... #FOK."
The first post for FOK News -- a pun referencing rival broadcaster Fox News and an acronym for "Friends of Keith" -- resurrected the popular "Countdown" segment "Worst Persons in the World." The post calls out cable news host Bill O'Reilly, Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia and "The would-be Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida" Mike Hogan as the worst people of the day.
Olbermann abruptly parted ways with MSNBC in January after hosting the network's most popular nightly show, "Countdown," for almost eight years.
The reasons for the liberal host's departure were not immediately clear, though he had public difficulties with the network, including a suspension in November over donations he made to Democratic candidates, which was in violation of network policy.
Speaking about his new Current TV program, which is expected to premiere this spring, former Vice President and Current TV founder Al Gore praised Olbermann as an addition to the public affairs channel.
"We now live in a world with fewer and fewer opportunities to hear truly unique, truly unfettered voices on television. Keith is one of those rare voices," Gore said.
