NBCU pulls out of first-run syndication, cancelling Access Hollywood

NBCUniversal has pulled out of the first-run syndication business, leading to the cancellation of long-running entertainment news programme Access Hollywood and its sister show Access Live, as well as daytime talkshows Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show.

Frances Berwick

Thirty-year-old Access Hollywood has aired on NBC since 1996 and will end in September. Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show, which have aired since 2022 and 2007 respectively, will also end after the summer.

The move comes as the first-run syndication market struggles in the streaming era, as linear viewing declines.

Frances Berwick, chair of Bravo and head of Peacock unscripted, who oversees NBCU’s first-run syndication business, said the company is making the changes to “better align with the programming preferences of local stations.”

“The company will remain active in the distribution of our existing programme library and other off-network titles, while winding down production of our first-run shows,” she said.

“These shows have provided audiences with great talk and entertainment content for many years and we’re very proud of the teams behind them.”

The news comes after NBCU announced last month that The Kelly Clarkson Show would also come to an end later this year, in addition to talkshow Sherri.