## CBS Outsources Late Night Slot to Byron Allen in Unprecedented Time-Buy Deal
CBS is fundamentally changing its late-night strategy, opting to sell its flagship 11:35 p.m. timeslot rather than produce a new in-house show. With Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' ending its run in May, the network has sealed a deal with media mogul Byron Allen to lease the entire post-local news hour. This arrangement, known as a time buy, effectively outsources the network's late-night programming for the first time, handing control of the coveted slot to an outside producer.

Under the deal, Allen will move his existing syndicated series, 'Comics Unleashed,' back-to-back into the hour. This marks a stark departure from the traditional network model of developing and owning its own talk shows, signaling a significant cost-saving and risk-shifting move for CBS. The network is essentially converting a core piece of its schedule into pure real estate, generating revenue from the slot without the production overhead of a major talk show.

The long-term implications for CBS's brand and its relationship with the late-night audience are now in question. This move places immense pressure on Byron Allen's company to deliver ratings and ad revenue that satisfy both the network and its affiliates. It also raises scrutiny over whether other broadcast networks might follow suit, potentially reshaping the economics and creative control of network late-night television.
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- **Source**: Variety
- **Sector**: The Stage
- **Tags**: broadcast television, late night, Byron Allen, time buy, programming strategy
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-06 17:27:02
- **ID**: 51749
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/51749