The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to End in May 2026

Dks01

bennor Yes, it can. As I said, I do some work in TV. The few you see on the air belie the background staff it takes to make the star look good.

urbanriot

Dks01 And? Lots of shows lose money.

… uh, what shows lose money and stay on air? Of course their goal is to make a profit, why else would a show exist if it wasn’t to make money.

px_eliezer_

urbanriot … uh, what shows lose money and stay on air? Of course their goal is to make a profit, why else would a show exist if it wasn’t to make money.

Network news shows (such as evening national news) are among the financially challenged right now.

But (so far) the major broadcasters have kept them going.

There are some shows that contribute to the overall image of a network, even if that particular show loses money.

Sort of like a loss-leader for a supermarket.

If every company had to be profitable, most of the airlines would have long since been out of business.

Somehow they keep going.

px_eliezer_

urbanriot I certainly wouldn’t qualify Stephen Colbert on that list considering he tarnishes the image of his network (which may have also factored into his firing).

One person’s tarnishing is another person’s burnishing.

As well:

Paramount’s ad revenue for its TV division has not fallen significantly recently, and the company highlighted the success of the ‘Late Show’ in its last earnings report.

Overall, advertising revenue for the television division declined 21% in the first quarter compared with the same period the year before, but the company said that was entirely due to the fact that CBS had broadcast the Super Bowl in 2024 but not in 2025. Excluding that loss, advertising revenue was flat year over year.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/was-canceling-stephen-colberts-late-show-really-about-money-the-numbers-dont-entirely-back-it-up-4b100500

Oh well.

CBS did start a new season of “Big Brother” last week. 🙂

telcodad

InternetJeff Network News can be deemed essential by it’s network for pride and branding, so I can see that being paid for out of overhead (a little business lingo there).

And I don’t know if this applies to the networks, or only the local stations (that actually broadcast over the air), but these news programs probably help them meet their licensing requirements.

For using public airwaves, broadcast licenses require operators to serve the “public interest, convenience, and necessity,” meaning that broadcasters must provide programming that is responsive to the needs of the communities that they serve. This can include local news, educational programs, etc.

HFB1217

This Discussion has lost its way.
OT with
Airlines, Subsidies, Disputes, and the Values of other types of shows and topics including Big Brother.
It has run it course and with Very many deletions as well make for the ending.

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