A tale of two stories: Olbermann’s MSNBC Exit Was Weeks in the Making and An NBC Departure Before Comcast Takeover. Is there any connection between these two stories?
Join me after the jump and decide for yourself.
Yesterday's NYT "Media Decoder" entry "Olbermann’s MSNBC Exit Was Weeks in the Making" seems to include an attempt to absolve Comcast of responsibility (without ever saying so) for Keith's departure, by noting that KO had been in negotiation to leave "[f]or the last several weeks" while also noting that Comcast's press release pointed out that "it had no operational control of the company yet."
However, an earlier entry of the Media Decoder, "An NBC Departure Before Comcast Takeover," provides an intriquing plot point to the Olbermann drama. That article, regarding the departure of Angela Bromstad (head of Primetime program development for NBC) notes that Bromstad was expected to stay on when Comcast honcho Robert Greenblatt assumed control of NBC’s entertainment operations at the end of the month. But, surprise, she abruptly announced her departure last week. Then the article added this tidbit:
"Mr. Greenblatt will assume official duties at NBC Entertainment on Jan 31. But NBC executives have said he has been quietly active in decision making in the division for several weeks, and with government approval of the takeover completed this week, he has been freed to take a more direct role."
Now, Greenblatt is in the Entertainment division. He might not have any connection to the News Division. However, it's interesting to note that, even without "operational control of the company," Comcast executives have been "quietly active in decision making...for several weeks" at the same time that Olbermann's departure had been in the works for, hey lookiethere, "several weeks."
So...? Whaddya think? Any connection?