NABET-CWA...Keith Olberman...Live From Times Square!

The ESPN studio in New York City's Times Square.

When Keith Olbermann returns to ESPN2 later this summer with his new and highly anticipated late night talk show, NABET-CWA members will be manning Times Square Studios, the site of the program. Disney/ABC, the NABET-CWA Sector and NABET-CWA Local 51016 last week signed an agreement which provides that the technical crew for the Keith Olbermann show be covered under the Union's Master Agreement with the ABC Television Network. The show will air live Monday through Friday nights at 11 p.m. ET.

The agreement covers studio and control room technicians assigned to the show by ABC, and follows previous agreements between the Network and NABET-CWA for the Washington, DC-produced ESPN shows "Pardon the Interruption", "Around the Horn", and "Highly Questionable." Times Square Studios is also the venue for the NABET-CWA covered program, "Good Morning America" which airs weekday mornings on ABC.

Art Mazzacca, President of NABET-CWA Local 51016 in New York City stated, "This agreement will provide a tremendous amount of work, 52 weeks out of the year, to our members, and will provide them with the benefits of a good Union contract." NABET-CWA members recently ratified their national ABC contract, which runs through March 2017.

"I am very proud that an additional group of NABET-CWA members will be putting their craft talents on display in the highly competitive late night television market," remarked Jim Joyce, President of the NABET-CWA Sector. "Our members already work on NBC's 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon', 'Saturday Night Live', and ABC's 'Nightline'", Joyce added.

By the way, Keith Olbermann is no stranger to working with NABET-CWA crews. His MSNBC show, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was produced at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City and was covered by a NABET-CWA agreement with NBC. His ESPN2 show is expected to launch on August 26.