CBS struck a blow for the business of late-night television earlier this year when it revealed it was moving out of programming the 12:30am slot.
This came after the network canceled After Midnight, hosted by Taylor Tomlinson, when the comedian decided she wanted to return to her “first passion” of touring.
CBS President and CEO George Cheeks, who came through in late-night at NBC, said that the network is still optimistic about the day-part – it has the top show in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – but admitted the loss of an hour was a blow.
“The day part is challenging from an ad sales perspective. I love our hand, we have the number one person at 11:30pm for the last nine years, and we still do believe in the day-part, but it is a challenge,” he said.
Colbert extended his deal to host The Late Show in 2023 for three more years, meaning that there’s one year to go on his current deal. Cheeks said that he hasn’t had any negotiations with Colbert, but said that he “really likes our hand” in that slot.
Cheeks also referenced a New York Times story – Is This Late-Night TV’s Last Gasp – which was ostensibly about the genre in the streaming world, highlighting Netflix’s Everything’s Live with John Mulaney, that highlighted that advertising revenue in late-night fell nearly 50% between 2018 and 2022.
After Midnight, which ran for two seasons, is coming to an end on June 12. Cheeks noted that the network had actually picked it up for a third season but it was Tomlinson’s decision to exit.
After Midnight is produced by CBS Studios, Stephen Colbert’s Spartina Industries and Funny Or Die. Amato and Martin executive produce along with Stephen Colbert, Carrie Byalick, Tom Purcell and Evelyn McGee Colbert of Spartina Industries; James Dixon of Dixon Talent, Joe Farrell, Mike Farah, Whitney Hodack and Henry R. Muñoz III of Funny Or Die and Jason U. Jo Firestone was co-executive producer and head writer. Sharon Everitt directed.
