CBS Late Night Ratings Plummet After Colbert's Departure
Post-Colbert figures reveal massive drop in CBS' late night audience

Image: Raw Story
CBS's late-night ratings have significantly declined following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show." The new show, "Comics Unleashed," has lost 65% of its audience, while competitors like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have seen substantial viewer increases.
- 01Stephen Colbert's cancellation of "The Late Show" has led to a 65% audience drop for CBS's new show, "Comics Unleashed."
- 02Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" attracted only 628,000 viewers, with just 82,000 in the key 18-49 demographic.
- 03Jimmy Kimmel's show saw a 53% increase in viewership, reaching 2.185 million, while Fallon gained 10% with 1.301 million viewers.
- 04CBS's financial risk is mitigated due to a "time buy" deal, where Byron Allen covers production costs and ratings consequences.
- 05The model allows CBS to avoid exposure to audience fluctuations, even as "Comics Unleashed" struggles for relevance.
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CBS has faced a dramatic decline in its late-night ratings following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show." The network's new program, "Comics Unleashed," hosted by Byron Allen, has suffered a staggering 65% drop in viewership compared to the same time slot last year, attracting only 628,000 total viewers and a mere 82,000 in the coveted 18-49 demographic, according to Nielsen data reported by The Daily Beast. In contrast, rival shows have thrived during this period; Jimmy Kimmel's program surged to 2.185 million viewers, marking a 53% year-over-year increase, while the 18-49 demographic for Kimmel's show jumped by 178%. Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show" also saw a 10% rise, drawing 1.301 million viewers. Despite the significant drop in ratings for CBS, the network's financial exposure is limited due to a "time buy" arrangement, where Allen purchased the time slot and assumes production costs, thereby shielding CBS from the adverse effects of declining viewership. This model allows CBS to remain insulated from audience volatility, even as "Comics Unleashed" struggles to find its footing in the late-night landscape.
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