Current TV and Keith Olbermann Locked in Bitter Entertainment Lawsuit

by Anthony Caruso on April 18, 2012

Keith Olbermann’s exit from Current TV has sparked a bitter entertainment lawsuit. His termination earlier this month has resulted in a series of legal filings and contentious public statements. Olbermann had hosted his “Countdown” program on the network, which is run by its founder Joel Hyatt and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

Olbermann was the first to file suit. His breach of contract lawsuit claims that he is owed as much as $70 million in cash and equity compensation. According to Reuters, the lawsuit maintains that Current violated the deal by terminating him without basis, disparaging him in the press, disclosing confidential contract terms, refusing to give him editorial control over election coverage, and using a substitute guest host whom Olbermann did not pre-approve.