A late-night TV establishment is coming to an finish.
In the present day, CBS introduced The Late Present with Stephen Colbert will finish its run after the 2025-2026 broadcast season.
George Cheeks, co-CEO Paramount World, president and CEO at CBS; Amy Reisenbach, president, CBS Leisure; and David Stapf, president, CBS Studios, introduced the information in a joint assertion, saying it was “purely a monetary resolution towards a difficult backdrop in late night time” and had nothing to do with the present’s efficiency.
“The Late Present with Stephen Colbert will finish its historic run in Could 2026 on the finish of the published season,” the assertion mentioned. “We think about Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and can retire The Late Present franchise at the moment. We’re proud that Stephen referred to as CBS residence. He and the published might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late-night tv.”
Colbert additionally introduced this system’s finish in a taped section for Thursday’s Late Present, saying he had first heard the information on Wednesday.
“It’s not simply the tip of our present, however it’s the tip of The Late Present on CBS. I’m not being changed. That is all simply going away,” Colbert mentioned.
The Late Present host went on to thank CBS for being nice companions and be aware that the present would proceed for one more 10 months.
“I’ve had the pleasure and the duty of sharing what we do on daily basis with you in entrance of this digicam for the final 10 years. And let me let you know, it’s a incredible job. I want any person else was getting it,” Colbert mentioned.
David Letterman first debuted on The Late Present in 1993, with Colbert taking up in 2015. With 10 years of Colbert behind the desk, the present frequently received the Nielsen scores for late-night broadcast exhibits and has racked up 33 Emmy nominations, together with Excellent Directing for a Selection Sequence and Excellent Discuss Sequence nominations for 2025.
Nonetheless, Colbert’s exit is simply the newest blow for late-night.
Regardless of the positives, the decline of late-night TV amid rising budgets and dwindling advert {dollars} has been a relentless story within the headlines, with NBCUniversal chopping The Tonight Present right down to 4 days per week in 2024 and CBS opting to finish The Late Late Present following James Corden’s exit in 2023.
The Late Present involves an finish as Paramount awaits FCC approval for its multi-billion-dollar merger with Skydance Media. In cost-cutting measures, Paramount additionally laid off a number of hundred staff in June.
See the complete assertion from CBS management under:
“‘THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT’ will finish its historic run in Could 2026 on the finish of the published season. We think about Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and can retire ‘THE LATE SHOW’ franchise at the moment. We’re proud that Stephen referred to as CBS residence. He and the published might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late night time tv.
That is purely a monetary resolution towards a difficult backdrop in late night time. It isn’t associated in any technique to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues taking place at Paramount.
Our admiration, affection, and respect for the skills of Stephen Colbert and his unimaginable staff made this agonizing resolution much more tough. Stephen has taken CBS late night time by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in leisure, politics, information and newsmakers throughout all areas. The present has been #1 in late night time for 9 straight seasons; Stephen’s comedy resonates day by day throughout digital and social media; and the published is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.
The accomplishments of ‘THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT’ are memorable and important in efficiency, high quality and stature. With a lot gratitude, we sit up for honoring Stephen and celebrating the present over the following 10 months alongside its tens of millions of followers and viewers.”
