Jeff Shell’s Vision for CBS: The Future of 10 PM Programming and Late-Night Television

In the wake of Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount Global, Jeff Shell returns to lead CBS, addressing the challenges and future of the network’s 10 PM hour and late-night programming.
Jeff Shell Discusses the Future of CBS’ 10 PM Hour
Following Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount Global, former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell has returned to lead a broadcast network. As the President of the newly merged Paramount, he manages the daily operations of the conglomerate’s media businesses, including CBS.
Shifting Viewing Habits and the 10 PM Hour
Before departing NBCU in April 2023, Shell was actively considering moving NBC away from the 10 PM hour, a time slot significantly affected by viewers shifting to streaming services. Given his previous advocacy for NBC to drop this hour, speculation arose regarding whether he would pursue a similar strategy for CBS upon assuming his new role.
Shell’s Insights on CBS’ 10 PM Programming
During a recent press event in Los Angeles with Paramount executives, Shell was asked about his plans for CBS’ 10 PM hour. He responded, “Same question, different answer,” emphasizing that CBS’ 10 PM programming is currently “healthier.”
Recognizing the challenges faced by broadcast networks in this time slot, he noted that CBS’ 10 PM dramas are performing well both on traditional television and streaming platforms, making it unlikely that the hour will be eliminated anytime soon.
Blue Bloods serves as a prime example of a CBS drama that has successfully thrived in the 10 PM time slot for 14 seasons. CBS aims to replicate this success with the upcoming spin-off, Boston Blue, which is scheduled for the same Friday 10 PM slot. Additionally, the comedic crime drama Elsbeth, currently airing on Thursdays at 10 PM, has emerged as one of CBS’ top multi-platform performers.
George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media for Paramount, stated, “The 10 PM dramas are good business for CBS from a performance and P&L standpoint, as well as the value they bring to Paramount+.” He added that these dramas provide a significant lead-in for late local news for affiliates and owned-and-operated stations.
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Earlier this year, Shell did raise the possibility of dropping the 10 PM hour with CBS executives, but the discussion was quickly dismissed after a detailed presentation illustrating the financial benefits of programming this time slot.
“Eventually, that could happen, for sure,” Shell commented on the potential for trimming CBS’ primetime to two hours, reiterating earlier remarks about reallocating resources toward growth areas. However, he confirmed that CBS will continue to program the 10 PM hour for now.
The Future of Late-Night Television
Just weeks before Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount Global was finalized, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would conclude in May 2026, effectively canceling the Late Show franchise. While Shell stated he was not involved in this decision, he supported it, asserting that late-night television in its current form is not effective.
“Late-night has a huge problem right now,” he remarked. Shell noted that Colbert’s viewership aligns with that of his predecessor, David Letterman, indicating that the show remains popular and culturally relevant. However, he pointed out that 80% of viewership is increasingly coming from YouTube, which poses economic challenges due to the platform’s revenue-sharing model.