The Late Show with Stephen Colbert posted an interview to its YouTube channel just recently, following newly implemented rules at the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), causing the network to later issue a statement addressing claims about the decision, and host Stephen Colbert responded on air.
Colbert interviewed Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a candidate for U.S. Senate. Because of the equal time rule, which CBS said applied in this case, the interview did not air on the broadcast.
The equal time rule requires broadcast stations to provide comparable airtime to political candidates. The rule historically has not applied to late-night or talk shows, which have operated outside its scope since the format’s rise in the 1960s. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr recently said he was thinking about applying the rule to talk shows.
“I think it’s highly probable that the equal time rule would not survive a legal challenge to the Supreme Court today,” said Nicholas Creel, a GCSU associate professor of business law. “It is incredibly problematic from a First Amendment perspective.”
After Colbert posted the interview on YouTube on Tuesday, Feb. 17, CBS said in a statement that he “was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview” and that the network “presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.”
Colbert responded the following night, saying the rule was newly applied and that his material is reviewed by attorneys.
“Every word of my script last night was approved by CBS’s lawyers, who, for the record, approve every script that goes on the air,” Colbert said.
Late-night television has seen declining viewership as audiences increasingly turn to social media for a mix of news and entertainment. According to Variety, an American trade magazine, Colbert averaged 3.17 million viewers in 2015, compared with 2.69 million currently.
“Late-night shows aren’t what they used to be,” Creel said. “Their viewership numbers are now quite low. I think your average late-night show probably gets less than maybe a third of your more popular Fox News audience.”
The YouTube interview has garnered more than 8 million views. Some observers said the controversy surrounding the equal time rule likely amplified its reach.
“People are definitely watching [late night shows] a lot less and finding their information and entertainment through other forms of media,” said Jackson Boyle, a freshman political science major. “I don’t think the interview would have gotten the same amount of attention if not for the situation.”
Colbert has previously hosted Rep. Jasmine Crockett, though she was not an active candidate during those appearances. Colbert has said he decides which guests to feature.
“I am well aware that we can book other guests,” Colbert said. “I didn’t need to be presented with that option. I have had Jasmine Crockett on my show twice.”
Some argue Colbert should be free to host guests of his choosing and express his views.
“[Posting the interview online] is well within his rights, and he is allowed to have his opinion on his show,” Boyle said.
Colbert’s response drew attention not only for addressing CBS but also for raising broader concerns about corporate influence and media censorship.
By posting the interview online rather than airing it on broadcast television, Colbert sidestepped the network’s interpretation of the equal time rule. The move raises broader questions about how, and whether, such regulations should apply to modern entertainment programs.
For students at GCSU, the controversy serves as a reminder of how media policy decisions made at the national level can shape what audiences see, and don’t see, across platforms. Students can follow updates from national outlets, review FCC policy discussions and engage in campus conversations about media literacy and First Amendment rights.
“I’m not even mad,” Colbert said. “I really don’t want an adversarial relationship with the network.… I’m just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies.”
