Who Owns The Late Show
The Late Show is produced by CBS Studios and broadcast by CBS, a commercial broadcast television network. The network is controlled by Paramount Global, a publicly traded media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in New York City. Paramount Global operates as the primary owner and distributor of The Late Show franchise.
The corporate ownership chain runs from Paramount Global down through its domestic networks division to the individual broadcast station group that handles local transmission. The Late Show is filmed at the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan, a facility operated under the CBS broadcasting infrastructure. All creative and business decisions for the franchise are ultimately subject to Paramount Global leadership and its board of directors.
Paramount Global Corporate Structure
Paramount Global is controlled by National Amusements, a privately held holding company chaired by Shari Redstone. National Amusements holds a controlling voting interest in Paramount Global, giving the Redstone family significant influence over major corporate decisions, including programming strategy and executive appointments.
Paramount Global is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol PARA. The company operates multiple divisions, including CBS Media Ventures, which manages syndication and distribution for CBS programming. The Late Show falls under the oversight of the CBS Entertainment division within the broader Paramount Global structure.
Key Executives and Leadership
George Cheeks serves as President and CEO of CBS, overseeing the network's programming, news, and entertainment operations. Amy Reisenbach leads CBS Entertainment, managing the primetime and late-night lineup, including The Late Show franchise.
On the corporate side, Paramount Global's leadership team reports to the board of directors, where National Amusements maintains a dominant voting position. The executive team handles mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, including recent discussions around potential mergers with other media companies. For broader context on media ownership structures, see this overview of corporate media conglomerates. The Late Show remains one of the highest-profile assets in the CBS portfolio, with its ownership and operational decisions closely tied to Paramount Global's overall corporate strategy.