NBCUniversal has announced its exit from the first-run syndication business, cancelling long-running shows including 'Access Hollywood' and 'The Steve Wilkos Show'. The decision marks the first major studio withdrawal from the shrinking marketplace, with industry observers expecting others to follow.
'Access Hollywood', a staple of entertainment news for three decades, and its spin-off 'Access Live' will cease original production at the end of the summer. Meanwhile, 'The Steve Wilkos Show' and 'Karamo' have already completed their current seasons. The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBCU's highest-profile first-run programme, is also ending after this season.
Frances Berwick, Chairman of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, said: 'NBCUniversal is making changes to our first-run syndication division to better align with the programming preferences of local stations. The company will remain active in the distribution of our existing program library and other off-network titles.' The move is expected to result in layoffs among crew and executives.
The first-run syndication business has struggled as linear viewership declines in the streaming era, with traditional talk shows replaced by video podcasts and pop culture news consumed on phones. Local stations have largely shunned syndicated fare in favour of local news or barter deals, making the dedicated studio model unsustainable.
