NBCUniversal is shutting down production of its first-run syndicated programming, a move that will end several long-running daytime and entertainment shows, including Access Hollywood, Access Live, Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show. The decision marks a major shift for the company as it adapts to changing viewing habits and the evolving needs of local TV stations.
Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show have already wrapped production, though previously recorded episodes will continue airing through the summer. Access Hollywood and its companion program Access Live will remain in production a bit longer, with new episodes expected to run through late summer or early fall before the programs officially conclude.
Frances Berwick, chairman of Bravo and head of Peacock unscripted for NBCUniversal, said in a statement: “NBCUniversal is making changes to our first-run syndication division to better align with the programming preferences of local stations. The company will remain active in the distribution of our existing program library and other off-network titles, while winding down production of our first-run shows. These shows have provided audiences with great talk and entertainment content for many years and we’re very proud of the teams behind them.”
Access Hollywood has been on the air for nearly three decades, debuting in September 1996 as a competitor to CBS’ Entertainment Tonight. The show is currently hosted by Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover, Scott Evans and Zuri Hall.
Karamo, led by ‘Queer Eye’ personality Karamo Brown, launched in 2022 and ran for four seasons. The Steve Wilkos Show, hosted by former Jerry Springer security guard Steve Wilkos, debuted in 2007 and became a long-running fixture of daytime TV. Both talk shows are filmed at NBCUniversal’s Stamford Studios in Stamford, Connecticut, a facility the company is expected to vacate later this year.
NBCUniversal had already signaled the changing landscape earlier this year by announcing that The Kelly Clarkson Show would end after seven seasons. Other daytime programs have also faced uncertainty, though some continue to move forward — including The Drew Barrymore Show, which has been renewed for additional seasons.
The cancellation of these programs reflects broader shifts within the television industry. Local stations are increasingly prioritizing news programming, community-focused content and a handful of national franchises instead of syndicated talk shows. At the same time, rising production costs and declining daytime viewership have made the traditional syndication model more difficult to sustain. Competition from digital platforms has also played a role. Video podcasts and online content now offer celebrity interviews, true-crime coverage and discussion-based programming similar to daytime TV, often produced at a fraction of the cost.
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