NBCUniversal is taking a big step by not producing new first-run syndicated TV shows anymore. This change means popular programs like Access Hollywood, Access Live, Karamo, and The Steve Wilkos Show will no longer be made.
Production for Karamo and Steve Wilkos has already wrapped up. Their final episodes will air this summer. Access Hollywood and Access Live will continue until then as well.
Frances Berwick, who leads Bravo and Peacock’s unscripted content, explained that this shift aims to meet the programming needs of local stations better. While NBCUniversal will stop making new shows, they plan to keep distributing their existing library, which has entertained audiences for years.
Access Hollywood has been around for almost three decades, first airing in September 1996. It features familiar faces like Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover. Karamo, hosted by Karamo Brown from Queer Eye, started in 2022, while Steve Wilkos has been running since 2007 and is known as a successor to Jerry Springer’s show.
Why this change? NBCUniversal feels that the traditional syndicated model isn’t working anymore. Local stations prefer more local news and community-focused programming. Recent statistics reveal that talk shows face increasing costs and competition from platforms like video podcasts, which have gained popularity for celebrity interviews and compelling stories at lower costs.
For example, Access Hollywood experienced layoffs last fall when E! canceled its daily news format. Despite this downturn, CBS’s Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition continue to thrive, proving that the landscape is changing but not disappearing.
It’s a significant moment for NBC and entertainment journalism overall. While new productions are ending, the company will keep making its older shows available, including hits like Dateline and Law & Order.
This change reflects a larger trend in the media landscape, where audiences increasingly seek diverse and engaging content across various platforms.
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