CBS Faces Boycott Calls After Canceling Colbert Show Losing $40 Million a Year

8 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 24

Jimmy Kimmel and online viewers urged Americans to stop watching CBS after Stephen Colbert’s final show aired this week, turning the cancellation into a broader boycott campaign.
CBS pulled the late-night program after it was reportedly losing $40 million annually, a financial rationale that has been met online with claims the move was meant to appease Donald Trump.
NFL games have become a focal point because CBS carries hundreds each year, though the report says fans are far less likely to skip football than to avoid whatever replaces Colbert’s time slot.
The backlash now tests whether anger over one canceled show can dent a network that also holds rights to major events such as the NCAA Tournament and The Masters.

Can a fan boycott hurt a media giant when its most popular content, like NFL games, is considered untouchable by viewers?

Is cancelling a top-rated show for a $40M loss the new reality for networks crushed between streaming and sports costs?

With TV viewership data now under industry scrutiny, are networks making billion-dollar decisions based on flawed numbers?