Late-night talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its run after a 33-year streak on CBS. The network announced that it would retire the franchise in May, citing financial reasons as the primary factor.
The news comes ahead of a merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media worth $8.4 billion. Earlier this year, Trump sued CBS News over an interview with Kamala Harris, claiming deceptive editing. Paramount eventually settled the lawsuit for $16 million.
During a recent episode, Colbert criticized the settlement, calling it “a big fat bribe.” He also mentioned that he would not be replaced and expressed gratitude to his viewers and crew.
CBS’s parent company is seeking approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the merger. Some have raised questions about the potential influence of Trump on the decision-making process.
In a joint statement, Paramount Global executives said the show’s cancellation was “purely a financial decision” and not related to its performance or content. They praised Colbert as an essential part of late-night television history.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/18/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-to-end-in-2026-as-cbs-cancels-show