Part 2/9:
CBS maintained that the show's cancellation was part of a strategic network shift, explicitly denying any connection to financial issues or the show's ratings. Contradicting this, reports suggest that The Late Show was losing approximately $40 million annually, a significant financial drain. Critics and viewers alike pointed out the inconsistency: if the decision was truly performance-agnostic, how could the network justify such a substantial financial loss? This contradiction has led many to believe the real motives are more complex, perhaps rooted in shifting cultural or political considerations.