colbert had the highest rated late night show as far as I know. His removal was after the merger and pressure from Trump.
He pressured Kimmel and if it wasn't for backlash I am sure he would still be off the air.
Do you even internet?
Yeah, he was the highest rated, in a shitty industry slot losing shit tons of money.
No, Donald Trump did not get Stephen Colbert fired. CBS announced in July 2025 that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end in May 2026 after its current season, with no replacement planned—effectively ending the long-running Late Show franchise on CBS.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was reportedly losing around $40 million to $50 million per year for CBS/Paramount in the period leading up to its cancellation announcement in July 2025. This figure comes from multiple anonymous sources close to the network and was widely reported across outlets like the New York Post, Puck, Fox News, The New York Times, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal.
Key Details on the Losses
Most common reported figure: Approximately $40 million annually in recent years (especially highlighted for the period around 2024–2025). Some sources described it as "more than $40 million" or "tens of millions," with the upper end reaching $50 million in leaks and statements.
Trajectory: The losses were said to be growing. One report noted the show was "on the trajectory of losing more than the $40–50 million it lost last year" (referring to the year before mid-2025), and Trump himself referenced ~$50 million in losses. Paramount later pushed back slightly, saying it wasn't currently losing more than $50 million annually.
Production budget: North of $100 million per season (some estimates around that ballpark, covering ~200 staff, Colbert's salary reportedly in the $15–20 million range, studio costs, guests, etc.). Ad revenue had dropped sharply — from about $121 million in 2018 to roughly $60–70 million in the most recent full year cited (a decline of ~40–50%). This gap, combined with high fixed costs, created the reported shortfall.
Apparently, alienating half the country isn't the best business decision in some industries.
