As The Writers Guild Calls For An Investigation Into Colbert’s Late Show Cancellation, Allegations Of An Ugly Financial Picture Are Starting To Emerge

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Despite having the weekend to come to terms with it, Hollywood is still reeling from CBS’s decision to cancel The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. This long-standing talk show consistently outperformed its competitors in ratings and was considered a key program for the network. However, none of this seemed to save it from cancellation. The show will officially come to an end in May 2026, but the reasons behind this decision remain a topic of intense discussion.

When CBS declared the termination, they stated it was solely due to financial reasons, yet to numerous viewers, the timing of events seems oddly suspicious. The network is currently engaged in a prearranged merger with Skydance, a media firm owned by the Ellison Family, who have strong personal connections to President Trump. Coincidentally, the same week, Colbert criticized CBS for settling a lawsuit with the President regarding a 60 Minutes story and paying $16M towards his Presidential Library. He referred to the money as a “big fat bribe” and employed vivid language to express his dissatisfaction with his superiors.

Right after the announcement of the cancelation, The Writers Guild Of America issued a statement, urging New York State Attorney General Letitia James to initiate an investigation into the reasons behind the cancellation, specifically whether it was influenced by “political pressure.” Notable Democratic politicians voiced their concerns about potential suppression of free speech with Colbert’s silencing on social media, echoing the calls for a deeper probe. These worries were also widely expressed and persistently voiced by celebrities and fans alike online in the wake of the cancellation.

Fresh details about the financial situation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert are surfacing, indicating CBS’ claims of financial difficulties might be validated. According to reports from CNN, the program is reportedly experiencing losses, and over the past year, advertising rates in late-night television have plummeted significantly. The late-night shows on major networks generated $439 million in ad revenue in 2018 but only $220 million by 2024. This substantial decrease in earnings poses a significant challenge for a live show that necessitates a large team of dedicated staff to operate smoothly.

It appears that CBS hasn’t publicly disclosed the financial figures for The Late Show, yet the general chatter suggests a consistent narrative. Advertisement rates for the show have significantly decreased and are still falling. Many television networks have found ways to offset this issue by selling streaming rights for some programs, but viewers seem less inclined towards watching archived episodes of late-night talk shows. While clips going viral can generate income on social media platforms, the revenue from pre-roll ads just doesn’t compare to The Late Show’s budget.

To put it in my own words as a movie buff, it’s unclear what exactly led to the end of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” According to CBS and various unnamed sources, the show was struggling financially, and if the network anticipated continued losses, it makes sense why they chose to part ways. However, given Stephen Colbert’s outspoken nature in criticizing President Trump and his own superiors, as well as the timing of CBS’ settlement and the upcoming merger, it’s not hard to see why some suspect there’s more than just budget issues at play. It could very well be that both factors played a role in the decision.

In the forthcoming months, you can anticipate that this tale will continue to make headlines. Given the situation, Colbert might become even more vocal in his statements. Moreover, considering the buzz surrounding it, several reporters may delve deeper to uncover the facts behind the events.

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2025-07-21 17:07