why did the stephen colbert show get canceled

Stephen Colbert's show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," was canceled by CBS primarily due to financial reasons. CBS and its parent company Paramount Global stated that the decision to end the show was driven purely by financial considerations amid a challenging late-night TV landscape, not related to the show's performance, content, or other issues within the company. The cancellation was announced in July 2025 and the show is set to end in May 2026. Despite being one of the top-ranked shows in its time slot with about 2 million viewers, "The Late Show" was reportedly unprofitable, and CBS executives described the cancellation as an "agonizing decision." There has been speculation and skepticism about the financial explanation, especially because the announcement came shortly after Colbert criticized CBS for a $16 million settlement with former President Trump and around the time of a corporate merger involving CBS's parent company that required approval from the Trump administration. Some believe political factors may have influenced the cancellation, though CBS denied any such connection citing financial reasons only. In summary, the official reason for Stephen Colbert's show cancellation was financial difficulties faced by CBS in the late-night television market, but the timing and surrounding circumstances have led to speculation about potential political motives as well.