CBS Announces New Syndicated Shows as NBCUniversal Exits First-Run Market in 2026

CBS Media Ventures announced a slate of syndicated television shows in March 2026, signaling a renewed focus on syndicated programming. The announced lineup includes The Perfect Line, Flip Side, Hot Bench, Adam’s Law, American Mayhem, Entertainment Tonight, and The Drew Barrymore Show.

Adam’s Law features the son of Judge Judy Sheindlin, while American Mayhem is produced by the team behind America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Hot Bench and Adam’s Law share a soundstage, sets, and crews in Connecticut, a state known for its tax incentives. The Perfect Line and Flip Side are produced in Georgia, another tax-efficient state. The Drew Barrymore Show is produced in a Paramount-owned facility in New York and has featured guests such as Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Adam Sandler, and Kathy Bates, along with integrated marketing campaigns involving Bertolli olive oil and Hellman’s Mayonnaise.

Meanwhile, NBCUniversal has decided to leave the first-run syndication business in 2026. This exit has resulted in the cancellation of Access Hollywood, Access Live, Karamo, and The Steve Wilkos Show. Additionally, Kelly Clarkson announced the end of her syndicated NBC daytime talk show, and Debmar-Mercury canceled Sherri Shepherd’s syndicated talk show.

Entertainment Tonight, part of CBS’s slate, has survived for 45 years and attracted a billion video views across social and digital platforms in February 2026.

Entertainment Tonight produces a lot of specials for CBS. The Drew Barrymore Show remains one of the few major daytime talk shows left after the recent cancellations of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Sherri, Karamo, and Access Live. YouTube continues to top Nielsen charts as the highest performing distributor on television in 2026, highlighting the evolving media landscape.

Warner Bros. Television, Disney/ABC, Sony Pictures Television, and various independent production companies continue licensing internally produced projects to local station owners. Bryon Rubin, COO and CFO of TV Media at Paramount, noted that Judge Judy has been the face of syndication television for decades.

He also highlighted the production locations and tax incentives supporting CBS’s syndicated shows.