O'Reilly Slams Al Gore Over Current Sale

Al Jazeera Buys CurrentTV

In a move that has wingnuts screaming, Al Jazeera has acquired Al Gore's CurrentTV.

Al Jazeera on Wednesday announced a deal to take over Current TV, the low-rated cable channel that was founded by Al Gore, a former vice president, and his business partners seven years ago. Al Jazeera plans to shut Current and start an English-language channel, which will be available in more than 40 million homes, with newscasts emanating from both New York and Doha, Qatar.

For Al Jazeera, which is financed by the government of Qatar, the acquisition is a coming of age moment. A decade ago, Al Jazeera’s flagship Arabic-language channel was reviled by American politicians for showing videotapes from Al Qaeda members and sympathizers. Now the news operation is buying an American channel, having convinced Mr. Gore and the other owners of Current that it has the journalistic muscle and the money to compete head-to-head with CNN and other news channels in the United States.

The deal is valued at $500M with about $100M going to Gore.  The new channel will be called Al Jazeera America with about 40% of its programming coming from the respected (by some) Al Jazeera English.

Quite predictably, Pam Geller is furious.

Full circle and out of the proverbial closet. The left goes full-on jihad. Al Jazeera has acquired Current TV. More jihadist propaganda on your cable dial. Lord knows that there is a plethora of Muslim Brotherhood mouthpieces on broadband, but a dearth of pro-freedom voices (i.e. SUN TV). Al Jazeera is the leading terrorist propaganda organization in the world.

RELATED: Last last night Time Warner Cable announced that they will not carry the new channel.

UPDATE: Below is the image appearing this morning on Current's channel for Time Warner NYC.   I'll miss watching the Stephanie Miller Show.

Dan Savage: Romney Is 100% Anti-Gay

"Whether someone punches you in the nose because they really hate you, or they punch you in the nose because they want to impress people who hate you, you still have a broken goddamn nose."

Cenk Uygur On "Greedy Gay Republicans"

Current TV Fires Keith Olbermann

After months of battling Current TV's owners and management, Keith Olbermann was fired today. The dismissal letter is harsh.

“We created Current to give voice to those Americans who refuse to rely on corporate-controlled media and are seeking an authentic progressive outlet. We are more committed to those goals today than ever before. Current was also founded on the values of respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers. Unfortunately these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann and we have ended it.”

Olbermann won't even be allowed the dignity of a farewell to his viewers, his slot tonight will be taken by Eliot Spitzer, of all people.

UPDATE: Olbermann says he plans to sue.

I'd like to apologize to my viewers and my staff for the failure of Current TV. Editorially, Countdown had never been better. But for more than a year I have been imploring Al Gore and Joel Hyatt to resolve our issues internally, while I've been not publicizing my complaints, and keeping the show alive for the sake of its loyal viewers and even more loyal staff. Nevertheless, Mr. Gore and Mr. Hyatt, instead of abiding by their promises and obligations and investing in a quality news program, finally thought it was more economical to try to get out of my contract. It goes almost without saying that the claims against me implied in Current's statement are untrue and will be proved so in the legal actions I will be filing against them presently.

Olbermann's Worst Persons In The World

Sheriff Babeu, Frank Lunz, Andrew Breitbart.

Olbermann: GOProud Moneyman Peter Thiel Is The Worst Person In The World

GOProud's fundraiser with Ann Coulter was held in billionaire Thiel's Manhattan loft. The Paypal founder and Facebook part-owner wants to build floating cities that are exempt from taxes and banking laws. Because being a fucking billionaire is never enough when the man is demanding his due.

Olbermann On Marcus Bachmann

Olberman On New York Marriage

(Via - Towleroad)

Keith Olbermann: Joining Current TV?

Keith Olbermann announced today that he'd be revealing a major career development tomorrow. Word is leaking out tonight that he's joining Al Gore's Current TV.

This was about as unexpected as it gets, and yet it makes a lot of sense for both Olbermann and the network. Olbermann is reportedly set to take a stake in the channel as well, which could make this more than just a typical TV talent deal. It could be more akin to the kind of pact Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications struck for her new cable network, OWN. That said, the extent of Olbermann’s involvement on-air is not yet known; he could simply recreate his own MSNBC show for an hour every weeknight or try something more ambitious like Winfrey did, molding the entire channel’s sensibility in her own image. Being an owner instead of an employee is also best for Olbermann and someone of his, shall we say, temperament, or risk chafing yet again under the reins of another corporate overlord (see MSNBC, Fox Sports, ESPN etc.). That said, we can all look forward to the inevitable headlines of Olbermann and Gore duking it out.

Bryan Safi: On Gays & Proms

Current TV host Bryan Safi tears into the Constance McMillen story.

Bryan Safi: Tips To Closeted Politicians

Bryan Safi: Award Shows Are Gay

Acockalypse Now: Fear Of The Gay Penis

From Current TV's Bryan Safi, a look at what folks are really scared about when it comes to the repeal of DADT.

Fun With Conversion Therapy

JMG reader BStewart23 directs us to this amusing Current TV clip mocking conversion therapy. "All you need is some lube and you've got a tailgate party!"

Current TV Looks At Gay Republicans

Let My Partner Stay

Another great viewer-created clip from CurrentTV: "Because same-sex marriages are not recognized in the United States, certain marital benefits, like the advantage of permanent residency for a foreign born partner, are denied to bi-national spouses. This commonly results in the foreign partner being forced to leave the United States, and their loved ones, behind. Brittany and Joanna's story is one of thousands."

Dads, I'm Straight

Via Queerty, in this amusing viewer-created film from Current TV a kid has to break the news to his dads that he's straight.