Overview
- CBS disclosed Thursday that The Late Show had been losing about $40 million a year and that the Byron Allen time‑buy will produce roughly $15 million in profit, a $55 million swing by the network’s accounting.
- Under the time‑buy Allen is paying a flat fee reported at $15 million a year, covering all production costs and keeping the advertising revenue while CBS receives the guaranteed license payment.
- Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed debuted in the 11:35 p.m. slot to roughly 0.9–1.1 million viewers in initial panel Live+Same‑Day measures, a steep decline from Stephen Colbert’s finale and below the show’s recent averages.
- Allen’s company released local market figures showing wins in some areas and Allen has said he is not trying to replace Colbert, while critics continue to question the timing and point to possible political motives tied to corporate deals.
- The deal highlights a wider shift in late night toward leased, lower‑cost programming that immediately improves network finances but could reduce audience flow for affiliates and shrink the cultural role of traditional nightly talk shows.