DTV DTE Energy Company

Public affairs channel Current TV confirmed it has hired Keith Olbermann to host a nightly primetime news and commentary show.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Tuesday the former host of MSNBC's "Countdown" may have had a deal with the channel, citing a person familiar with the matter. Olbermann left his former network after a series of public disputes with management.

Olbermann will also serve as the company's chief news officer and have an equity stake in Current Media, the channel's parent company.

Current Media was founded by former Vice President Al Gore and Joel Hyatt--the founder of Hyatt Legal Services. The company had filed to go public in 2008 but shelved those plans amid a souring stock market.

The company said Olbermann's show will lead a programming slate that includes original and acquired TV series aimed at an "influential adult audience."

 
   -By Matt Jarzemsky, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2240; matthew.jarzemsky@dowjones.com