Late-Night Shake-Up: Colbert's Departure Boosts Kimmel and Fallon, Sinks 'Comics Unleashed
Viewers are expressing their frustration over CBS's decision to cancel Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show," leading to a significant decline in viewership for Byron Allen's replacement program, "Comics Unleashed." As a result, competitors Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have seen an increase in their audience numbers, taking advantage of the situation.
Following Colbert's departure, Kimmel's show saw a substantial rise in viewership, with 2.185 million total viewers on June 1, marking a 53% year-on-year increase. In the 18-49 demographic, ABC's late-night show attracted 295,000 viewers, a remarkable 178% increase from the previous year.
Fallon's "Tonight Show" secured 1.301 million total viewers, a 10% year-over-year increase, placing it in second position. The NBC program also saw a 14% improvement in the 18-49 demographic, with 194,000 viewers compared to last year.
On the other hand, CBS experienced a significant decline in viewership with Allen's "Comics Unleashed," which only garnered 628,000 total viewers, a 65% drop from the same time slot last year. In the crucial 18-49 demographic, the show attracted just 82,000 viewers, according to reports.
The financial structure of Allen's deal with CBS shields the network from direct financial repercussions. Through a "time buy" agreement, Allen purchased the 11:35 p.m. time slot from CBS, covering all production costs and handling advertising sales independently. This setup means that Allen, rather than the network, bears the financial impact of the poor ratings.
According to a source, this arrangement benefits CBS by allowing them to program the late-night slot without being exposed to audience and advertiser fluctuations, even as the show's relevance diminishes.