Late-Night TV’s Decline: Free Speech or Fading Relevance?

Linear Platforms Playing Both Sides

You have to give the linear legacy television platforms—broadcast, cable, and satellite—credit. They have managed to have their cake and eat it too. Revenues are shrinking, but they still stuff the money into their pockets while blaming President Trump for any changes. Their late-night talent keeps offending audiences, then hides behind claims of being free speech martyrs. Meanwhile, the corporate media self-righteously carries their water.

The Free Speech Myth

Before going further, let’s address the nonsense about free speech. Nobody is saying these late-night performers cannot say whatever they want. As public figures, they can broadcast their views on TV or social media. The only difference is the size of the audience.

Many of these same voices had no problem when Tucker Carlson was fired by Fox or when Roseanne Barr was kicked off the air for racially insensitive remarks. Back then, we were reminded that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. That fact still stands.

Colbert’s Exit

Earlier this year, CBS announced that Stephen Colbert’s contract would not be renewed. The decision came in July, but the show will stay on-air until May. Call me cynical, but that hardly qualifies as “sudden and abrupt.”

Colbert has been a relentless critic of President Trump, but his program also loses $40 million a year. CBS made an economic choice, yet liberals screamed about free speech and blamed Trump. Remember—Colbert still got 10 months on-air after the decision. CBS made a business call, and Trump took the heat. Nice trick.

Kimmel’s Suspension

Not to be outdone, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel after he made vile, untrue statements about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Once again, Democrats shouted about free speech and promised legislation to protect the airwaves from Trump. And once again, Trump was blamed.

Here’s the reality: Kimmel’s show also loses money, though less than Colbert’s. ABC has already announced Kimmel will return. Affiliate stations under Sinclair and Nexstar will not carry him, including in major markets like Washington, D.C., and about 30 smaller ones. Their decision was simple—the audience is too small to justify the cost.

A Dying Genre

Late-night television is a declining, dying genre. Maybe alienating half the country was never smart, but it doesn’t matter now. Before the latest dust-up, Kimmel had barely a million viewers, with 261,000 in the 25-54 demographic. Compare that to Joe Rogan, who averages 11 million listeners per episode and 200 million downloads each month.

Ask yourself: When was the last time you watched one of these shows?

Trump Derangement and the Media Trap

Trump Derangement Syndrome runs so deep that when legacy platforms make decisions motivated by money, liberals still blame Trump. They ignore their own record about speech and consequences. Instead, they double down, calling him authoritarian, fascist, even Hitler.

P.T. Barnum once said, “A sucker is born every day.” Smug, hypocritical liberals seem determined to prove him right. The big networks would rather take heat for “caving” to Trump than admit the truth: they are greedy enterprises, as they always have been.

Common Sense: It’s hard to take liberals seriously when they keep getting played for suckers.