The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Ending May 21, CBS Retiring Late-Night Franchise

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

How Colbert’s Replacement Is Helping Tank the Rest of CBS

Lower ratings in the CBS time slot formerly occupied by Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show could harm the network’s other programming, media experts say. After Colbert’s cancellation, CBS brought in comedian and business executive Byron Allen to host Comics Unleashed, for which Allen Media covers all production costs. But Nielsen data viewed by Status also reveal lower ratings than Colbert generated toward the end of his run. Specifically, ratings for the comedy panel show fell 64 percent.

Lower ratings in the CBS time slot formerly occupied by Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show could harm the network’s other programming, media experts say.

Media experts warn that the steep 64% drop in ratings for CBS's late-night hour—currently occupied by Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed following the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—is creating a negative "lead-out" effect. Because late-night historically serves as a crucial nightly anchor, the sudden loss of a strong broadcast lead-in is exacerbating broader viewership declines across CBS’s other primetime and morning programming. The network pivoted to Byron Allen's show through a cost-saving time-buy arrangement, shifting the slot from a reported $40 million annual loss into a profit for CBS. However, the program now draws an average of only 635,000 viewers, with just 82,000 in the critical 18-49 advertiser demographic. Consequently, television analysts point out that affiliates are taking a hit. The severe audience bleed at 11:30 p.m. starves the local news broadcasts that immediately follow, creating a damaging ripple effect down the schedule.