NBC’s decision to reduce ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’ to four nights a week, cutting one day from its schedule, has been tough to accept for Fans of late-night entertainment.
The network cites economic reasons for this change, noting a shift in audience behaviour from traditional linear TV viewing to on-demand streaming options.
NBC’s strategy now aligns with other networks by scheduling new episodes from Monday to Thursday while airing repeats on Fridays. This approach is not unique to NBC; CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC’s own Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show have all adopted a similar four-originals-per-week format.
Reports indicate that after reviewing the costs and benefits of late-night programming, NBC concluded that producing shows for the 1:30 am slot and later was no longer economically viable. This adjustment reflects broader industry trends as networks increasingly prioritize competitiveness with mobile and on-demand viewing platforms.
Read: NBC Stands by Jimmy Fallon Amidst Rumors and Controversy