Two prominent liberal media columns have dismissed the notion that the pending cancellation of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ is driven by political motivations, instead emphasizing the broader economic and cultural decline of late-night programming. The New York Times and The Washington Post articles argue that the show’s financial losses and declining viewer numbers are the primary reasons behind its cancellation, not Colbert’s political stance. Both columns highlight the broader trend of shrinking audiences and waning advertising revenue for late-night television, which has faced increasing competition from digital platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
The article by William Cohan of the New York Times suggests that the cancellation of Colbert’s program is a result of Paramount Global’s broader cost-cutting measures, with the media conglomerate aiming to reduce expenses by $500 million while also shedding 15 percent of its workforce. Cohan notes that despite Colbert’s popularity among some viewers, the network’s decision was driven by the declining profitability of late-night programming, a trend that is expected to affect other major late-night hosts as well. The Washington Post’s Megan McArdle corroborates this stance, pointing out that late-night shows have become economic liabilities for networks due to their diminishing viewership and advertising revenue, as evidenced by the show’s $40 million annual losses. She argues that network executives would have been hesitant to cancel a show that was generating prestige and buzz, but the financial realities of late-night television have made such decisions increasingly difficult.
CBS confirmed that the cancellation was a financial decision, stating it had nothing to do with the show’s content or performance. The network also clarified that the cancellation is unrelated to its recent $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over the network’s coverage of the 2024 election. While some critics have speculated that political factors may have played a role, the network has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that the decision was driven by the financial and cultural shifts in the media landscape. As late-night television continues to lose its audience to digital platforms, the cancellation of Colbert’s show serves as a case study in the broader transformation of the industry.