CBS faces harsh reality after Stephen Colbert departure as Jimmy Kimmel pulls ahead

Stephen Colbert’s departure from CBS has already reshaped the late night television landscape, with fresh ratings figures showing a dramatic shift in audience attention during the first week without The Late Show.

According to Nielsen live and same day ratings reported by The Daily Beast, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! emerged as the clear winner on June 1, the first night that both Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon returned with new episodes following Colbert’s farewell. Kimmel’s programme attracted 2.185 million viewers, marking a significant increase compared with the same period a year earlier.

The show also performed strongly among viewers aged 18 to 49, a demographic closely watched by advertisers. Kimmel drew 295,000 viewers in that category, representing a substantial rise from the previous year and placing him ahead of his late night rivals.

NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon finished in second place. Fallon’s programme attracted 1.301 million viewers and also recorded year on year gains, though it remained well behind Kimmel’s audience totals. In the key 18 to 49 demographic, Fallon drew 194,000 viewers.

CBS experienced the most challenging night of the three major broadcasters. The network aired Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed in the 11.35pm slot previously occupied by Colbert. The programme attracted 628,000 viewers and 82,000 viewers in the 18 to 49 demographic.

However, the situation is slightly more complex than a traditional network ratings battle. Under a time buy arrangement, Allen purchased the late night slot and assumes responsibility for production costs while also controlling advertising sales. That means the direct financial impact of the programme’s performance falls primarily on Allen rather than CBS.

CBS previously defended the move as part of a broader business strategy. The network said the arrangement transformed a time period that had reportedly been losing around $40m annually into one expected to generate a profit. Executives described the decision as a financial response to the increasingly difficult economics of late night television.

Colbert hosted The Late Show for more than a decade after succeeding David Letterman in 2015. His final episode aired in May 2026 and featured music legend Paul McCartney as his last guest, bringing an end to one of the most successful eras in modern late night television.

The cancellation announcement first came in July 2025 and sparked widespread discussion across the entertainment industry. While CBS maintained that financial considerations drove the decision, the timing generated scrutiny because it followed Colbert’s criticism of the network’s settlement with President Donald Trump regarding a dispute connected to 60 Minutes.

The conversation surrounding Colbert’s departure has continued in the months since, with Letterman publicly defending his successor and questioning the explanations offered for the show’s cancellation.

For now, the first ratings battle of the post Colbert era has delivered a clear result. Kimmel has emerged as the early leader, Fallon remains competitive, and CBS faces the challenge of redefining its late night identity after the end of one of television’s most prominent programmes.