Paramount to Develop New Concepts Despite Byron Allen Deal

CBS is currently exploring new concepts for its late-night programming following the departure of Stephen Colbert, according to Paramount TV Media chairman George Cheeks. While the network has secured a short-term arrangement to fill the time slot, leadership indicates that a long-term strategy for original late-night content is still under development.

During a press conference on April 15, 2026, held to announce the network’s fall schedule, Cheeks confirmed that CBS is looking to potentially develop other programs for the 11:35 p.m. Slot. He stated that the network will continue to develop other ideas, other concepts despite the current programming deal in place.

The Transition to Byron Allen

To fill the immediate void left by The Late Show, CBS has entered into a one-year deal with Byron Allen. Under this agreement, Allen’s program Comics Unleashed will air at 11:35 p.m. The arrangement is structured as a time-buy, meaning the Allen Media Group pays CBS for the airtime and is responsible for selling the advertising slots.

View this post on Instagram about Allen, Colbert

Cheeks noted that this specific financial model allows the network to achieve immediate profitability in that time slot. The programming block will be expanded into a two-hour comedy window, featuring Comics Unleashed followed by another Allen-produced comedy trivia show, Funny You Should Ask.

This shift comes as The Late Show wraps its 33-year run next month. The program’s history includes 22 years with founding host David Letterman before the tenure of Stephen Colbert.

Financial and Political Context

The decision to move away from Stephen Colbert was described by the network as purely a financial decision. However, reports indicate that the timing coincided with David Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount. Colbert has suggested it is reasonable to assume political factors were involved, specifically noting a recent settlement between CBS and President Donald Trump regarding a 60 Minutes segment.

The financial pressure on late-night television has been a recurring theme. David Letterman commented on the shake-up, suggesting that the network’s current priority is making money rather than spending it.

They Don’t Want to Spend Money — They Want to Make Money

David Letterman

The Future of Late Night at CBS

Despite the temporary reliance on time-buy deals, George Cheeks expressed a continued belief in the viability of late-night television. He acknowledged that while the reach of these programs remains significant, that audience is now primarily found on YouTube, a platform he described as being under monetized.

Cheeks indicated that for CBS to successfully return to the space with original programming, the network must implement a different financial model. Before settling on the deal with Byron Allen, the network reportedly considered several alternatives for the post-Colbert era, including:

• Airing repeat broadcasts of previous shows.
• Returning the time slot to local affiliates.
• Developing new original concepts.

As the network moves into the 2026-27 season, the focus remains on balancing the immediate profitability of the Allen deal with the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable, original late-night presence.