Conan O'Brien Compares Late-Night TV's Decline to Detroit's Auto Industry
The veteran comedian cited increased competition from streaming, the internet, and digital content as factors in the shrinking economic viability of traditional late-night shows.
Veteran comedian Conan O'Brien has drawn parallels between the current state of late-night television and the decline of Detroit's auto industry, attributing the shift to evolving media landscapes and increased competition.
Speaking at Bloomberg Screentime 2026, O'Brien described how networks in the late 1940s initially left airwaves empty after 10:30 p.m. This changed as networks began filling the time, with NBC eventually developing a stable of late-night hosts starting with Steve Allen, followed by Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. O'Brien recalled that during his 17-year tenure hosting "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on NBC, which began in 1993, late-night TV functioned as a "giant machine that fires out cash."
However, O'Brien observed a significant shift during his time on air. "They're asking us to be much more cost-conscious," he noted, pointing to the rise of alternative entertainment options.
"It's a little like Detroit and automobiles," O'Brien explained. "Like, the things just started to change, and you can get really upset about it. But then streamers come along. And then I'm not even mentioning the internet."
He highlighted how the proliferation of streaming services and the sheer volume of content available online, particularly user-generated videos, have fragmented audiences and reduced the economic model for traditional late-night programming. "For years, we were working really hard to do something innovative and creative at night. Now you're competing with how many people in America are posting videos every day, or worldwide. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions of people are making funny videos," he said. "If you do the math, nine of them are going to be one of the funniest things you've ever seen. Those come out every day. That's what you're competing against."
O'Brien transitioned from television to podcasting, now hosting "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend." His comments come as networks have reduced their commitment to late-night programming. TBS ceased its late-night offerings in 2022 after canceling "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee." Earlier in 2026, CBS concluded "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," reportedly a significant financial drain for the network, and replaced it with Byron Allen's syndicated "Comics Unleashed." While "Comics Unleashed" draws a smaller audience, CBS anticipates profitability due to substantially lower costs.