Byron Allen Takes Over CBS Late Night After Stephen Colbert’s Emotional Exit
Byron Allen Takes Over CBS Late Night After Stephen Colbert’s Emotional Exit
Big changes at CBS! Media mogul Byron Allen moves into Stephen Colbert’s 11:35 PM slot with a unique deal. Here’s what’s next for late-night TV and the future of BuzzFeed.
It is the end of an era for late-night television. After a decade of hosting The Late Show on CBS, Stephen Colbert has officially signed off. For viewers who have tuned in at 11:35 PM every night since 2015, the late-night landscape is about to look very different. Taking over the coveted time slot is media mogul Byron Allen with his long-running show, Comics Unleashed.
The transition marks a significant shift in how networks handle their prime real estate. Unlike traditional setups where the network pays the host, Allen has entered into a unique 16-month lease agreement with CBS. He is essentially paying the network for the time slot and will manage the advertising sales himself. CBS executives noted that this arrangement provides immediate profitability for the network, especially after citing financial reasons for the cancellation of Colbert’s show.
While the network emphasizes the bottom line, the move has sparked conversation across the country. Colbert ended his run with the same empathy and entertainment that defined his tenure, but the political climate surrounding the show remained a talking point until the very end. Even former President Donald Trump weighed in, sharing a giddy reaction on social media at 2 AM following the final broadcast.
For Byron Allen, this is just another piece of his rapidly expanding media empire. At 65, Allen isn't just a comedian; he's a power player who recently acquired a majority stake in BuzzFeed for a deal potentially worth $120 million. His portfolio already includes the Weather Channel and several local television networks. Allen has been clear about his ambitions, stating that he is focused on building the world's biggest media company.
As Comics Unleashed moves to its new home, it brings an apolitical, panel-style comedy format to the slot. Whether viewers will embrace this change after years of Colbert’s satirical commentary remains to be seen, but for now, CBS is betting on Allen’s business-savvy approach to lead them into a new chapter of broadcasting.
