New audience data indicate that CBS's late-night programming experienced a substantial decline in viewership following the departure of Stephen Colbert from 'The Late Show.

' According to figures cited in the report, Byron Allen's 'Comics Unleashed,' which began occupying the former late-night slot after Colbert's exit, attracted approximately 628,000 total viewers.This represented a reported 65% decline compared with the audience that watched the same time period a year earlier.The show's performance among viewers aged 18 to 49 was also relatively weak, drawing about 82,000 viewers.At the same time, competing late-night programs on rival networks benefited from increased audiences.ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' reportedly reached 2.185 million total viewers on June 1, marking a significant year-over-year increase.In the key 18-49 demographic, the program also recorded strong growth.NBC's 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' ranked second in total viewers with approximately 1.301 million and posted moderate gains compared with the previous year.

The article notes that CBS may not be directly affected financially by the ratings decline because of the business arrangement used for the time slot.

Under a 'time buy' agreement, Byron Allen reportedly purchased the late-night slot from CBS, assumes production expenses, and retains responsibility for selling advertising.As a result, fluctuations in ratings and advertising revenue primarily affect Allen rather than CBS.Sources cited in the report suggest that this structure limits CBS's financial risk even if audience numbers remain low.

The story portrays the early ratings performance as a challenging start for the replacement program while competitors capitalize on viewers who no longer watch CBS's former late-night lineup.