Overview

• CBS executives led by George Cheeks emphasize the cancellation is purely financial, citing annual production costs exceeding $100 million and declining ad revenues
• Paramount’s recent $16 million settlement with President Trump has fueled accusations that the payout influenced the timing of Colbert’s show ending
• Lawmakers including Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren have demanded full transparency over potential political motives in CBS’s programming choices
• Jimmy Kimmel voiced support for Colbert on social media; Jon Stewart warned he had received no clarity on whether The Daily Show would survive the Skydance-Paramount merger
• The decision underscores the broader challenges facing broadcast late-night as audiences shift to streaming and advertising revenue continues to erode