CBS Cancels ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,’ Sparks Outcry Over Free Speech and Network Future
CBS Cancels ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,’ Sparks Outcry Over Free Speech and Network Future
The television landscape is reeling from the breaking news that CBS has canceled “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” with its upcoming 2025-26 season confirmed as its last. The abrupt announcement by CBS on Thursday, following Colbert’s internal notification to staff on Wednesday, has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and raised serious questions about the future of late-night television.
Network executives attribute the decision to widespread financial pressures impacting all late-night programs, citing declining ad revenues and viewership. “The Late Show” reportedly faces annual losses in the tens of millions, with a 20% drop in its crucial 18-to-49 demographic since 2022. This move follows previous cuts at NBC’s “The Tonight Show” and the cancellation of CBS’s own “Late Late Show” two years prior.
However, the timing of the cancellation has ignited significant controversy. It comes just days after Stephen Colbert publicly criticized Paramount Global’s $16-million settlement with former President Trump related to a CBS News interview. Critics, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and the Writers Guild of America, suggest the cancellation could be a politically motivated act, aimed at currying favor with the Trump administration amidst Paramount’s pursuit of an $8-billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires FCC approval.
Despite the speculation, sources close to the discussions indicate the decision, made months ago, might be tied to contractual timings for writer-producer teams, whose deals were offered only through May 2026, signaling the show’s planned end. Colbert, who still has a year left on his contract, is expected to maintain his uncensored commentary through his final season.
The cancellation of CBS’s most-watched late-night program underscores a broader crisis for the format. Once a cornerstone of network identity and a lucrative advertising vehicle, late-night TV has struggled against fragmented audiences, the rise of streaming, and the dominance of social media clips. While online engagement with show segments is high, it fails to generate the same ad revenue as traditional broadcasts. Media analysts, like Rich Greenfield, view this as a potential harbinger of deeper cuts across legacy media’s expensive original programming slate. The departure of “The Late Show” marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape, leaving an 11:30 p.m. void that CBS will struggle to fill with similar audience appeal.
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