NBCUniversal is making big changes to its daytime lineup. The company is ending popular shows like “Access Hollywood” and “Access Live” in September. Hosted by Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover, Scott Evans, and Zuri Hall, these shows have been staples for years.
Also, “Karamo” and “The Steve Wilkos Show” are shutting down. These programs have already wrapped up their current season and will air until summer ends. Notably, “The Steve Wilkos Show,” hosted by a former bouncer from “The Jerry Springer Show,” has been on air for 19 seasons.
In a statement, Francis Berwick, chairman of Bravo and Peacock unscripted, mentioned that they will still distribute older episodes, but new daytime shows will not be produced. “We’re adjusting our first-run syndication division to better meet local stations’ needs,” he said.
Historically, first-run syndication was a successful model, allowing shows like “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” to thrive. This strategy enabled producers to sell content directly to local stations rather than through a single network. However, with the rise of streaming services, many viewers now prefer on-demand content. A recent report showed that streaming services gained over 30% of the total viewing time in the past year, pulling focus away from traditional TV.
As daytime talk shows fade, many local stations are turning to more local news instead. This shift reflects changing viewer habits and the decline of first-run programming’s profitability.
These trends highlight the broader challenge facing daytime TV. As entertainment evolves, companies must adapt to new viewer expectations, leaving behind a long-standing format.
For more in-depth statistics on the changing television landscape, check out the latest Nielsen report here.
