Late Night TV Economics

Disney Executive Dana Walden Discusses the Financial Challenges Facing Late Night Television

Disney's Dana Walden addressed the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on a Bloomberg Screentime session, stating that her job is to "keep this seat warm for Casey Bloys, who's bringing the real news" when asked about the show's future. Kimmel recently signed a one-year contract extension to keep hosting the late night show through the 2026-27 season. Walden acknowledged that Kimmel's ratings are up relative to a smaller audience watching late night on broadcast television. Despite a strong presence on YouTube and social media platforms, these views and clicks do not generate enough revenue for a premium talk show.

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