Eric Deggans

It seems like many more people are watching these shows online in places where the network can't monetize the views.

Let's sort of start with CBS's contention that this was purely a financial decision.

Everyone that I've talked to that knows the TV industry, including people who have hosted late night shows, none of them fully believe that.

Yeah.

In part because he's the highest rated network TV late night show host right now.

And they didn't even try to figure out the economics of that show.

Can we figure out ways to cut costs so we can still do this as we transition into a digital future?

The other thing is Stephen Colbert is a popular brand still.

And he can be used to sell CBS programming.

to other tons of CBS programming.

He could be branded all over their websites.

But I think also there's a sense that CBS as a network is shifting away from Colbert people and more towards Trump people.

So I think

To them, his value as a mascot or face of the network was also diminished.

Right.

Because the people they want to appeal to wouldn't necessarily gravitate to him.

Yeah.

And they had a handy excuse.

New ownership, the show costs a lot, we're going in a different direction.

The problem is they're leasing that space to Byron Allen, a mogul who has two shows that he's developed himself.