Stephen Colbert Reveals He Declined Five-Year CBS Deal in 2023

[SomeRadioGuy]

No, I'm saying that the source cited offered zero support for its contentions. Further, CBS was not forced into this decision.

CBS made this decision of its own volition. The federal government did not cancel the show, CBS did as is their right as business managers to manage expenses responsibly. They obviously concluded that continuing the show was not a good use of capital.

If you think CBS wasnt forced into this decision, youre not reading the room/between the lines enough.

 

[umfan]

If you think CBS wasnt forced into this decision, youre not reading the room/between the lines enough.

I disagree. If the money was there, Mr. Colbert still would be. Happy to view any real factual information that contradicts this. Paramount/CBS, the entity that made the decision has consistently maintained it is about economics.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I disagree. If the money was there, Mr. Colbert still would be. Happy to view any real factual information that contradicts this. Paramount/CBS, the entity that made the decision has consistently maintained it is about economics.

Money is only a small reason this happened. CBS was fine with the money situation till our current presidential administration leaned on CBS and CBS wanted the merger/sale

 

[umfan]

Money is only a small reason this happened. CBS was fine with the money situation till our current presidential administration leaned on CBS and CBS wanted the merger/sale

Happy to read any reporting, not commentary, laying that out.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Happy to read any reporting, not commentary, laying that out.

Hit google.. its all over the place.

 

[TheBigA]

Happy to read any reporting, not commentary, laying that out.

Here's one. Paramount made an agreement with the FCC to get approval. Why was no similar agreement required from Nexstar?

FCC Chairman Praises Skydance’s “Commitment To Serious Changes At CBS”; Democratic Commissioner Blasts “Cowardly” Capitulation

FCC chairman Brendan Carr praised Skydance Media's commitment to hire an ombudsman for CBS News after it completes its merger with Paramount Global.

deadline.com

"They committed to embracing fact-based journalism. They’ve also committed to either not extending or removing invidious forms of DEI discrimination, which are all significant commitments that they have offered. So we are going to take a look at that.”

 

[Mark Roberts]

The debut of Byran Allan underperformed other shows in the time period:

Um, yeah. No reasonable person expected anything otherwise out of the gate.

For one thing, I'm sure that Colbert's ratings went up as the end of the show approached. There was bound to be a drop-off, whether the comparison was to The Late Show or to alternate choices in the time slot.

For another, "Comics Unlimited" is a different type of show. It's not nearly as topical as The Late Show was. The type of audience to which The Late Show appealed is mostly not the same.

Finally, Allen bought the time. CBS makes money regardless of the show's performance. It's Allen's money to lose. Allen wanted to be in late night, for who knows whatever reason, and he was willing to pay the money to get there. CBS no doubt saw multiple benefits: a guaranteed flow of revenue, a show that is far less likely to offend Washington decision-makers who could weigh in on future Paramount business deals, and advancing the ideological project of neutering CBS as a media outlet that can hold politicians to account.

There's also the perception of quality. It feels like a Nordstrom has been torn down and replaced by a dollar store.

 

[TheBigA]

There won't be documentation where someone admits the company dropped a show for political reasons. This is an administration that governs in secret. They want to require all federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements. They already have such a requirement to work in the white house and pentagon. But all public comments from the president and his FCC head indicate that they weren't unhappy about the way things transpired. They encouraged the other networks to do the same thing.

Once again, if this is only about finances, why is the government so concerned about the profitability of TV networks? Where is that written in the communications act?

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

This is an administration that governs in secret.

With the occasionally notable exception of a “president” who publicly boasts like a mafia boss when his crew takes out someone on his enemies list.

They want to require all federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Most transparent administration in history they claim. Then do the opposite.

Maybe they just don’t want anyone disclosing how bad the stench is.

They already have such a requirement to work in the white house and pentagon. But all public comments from the president and his FCC head indicate that they weren't unhappy about the way things transpired.

The most obvious “wink wink” imaginable.

Once again, if this is only about finances, why is the government so concerned about the profitability of TV networks? Where is that written in the communications act?

Gee, I wonder.

 

[gr8oldies]

If you think CBS wasnt forced into this decision, youre not reading the room/between the lines enough.

Something about needing Trump's DOJ to approve a merger? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

 

[TexasTom]

Um, yeah. No reasonable person expected anything otherwise out of the gate.

No reasonable person expected otherwise, period. The likelihood that Byron Allen's cheap, recyclable programs will ever come close to the ratings of The Late Show is pretty much zero. CBS knows that, which is why Byron Allen is paying them, rather than the other way around.