American late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has publicly encouraged his audience to cancel their Paramount+ streaming subscriptions. The unusual call to action was made in support of fellow CBS host Stephen Colbert, whose programme, like Kimmel's and many others, has been off air due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes in Hollywood.
Kimmel, host of ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', questioned his audience's inaction during a recent appearance, asking, 'Why aren’t you people canceling Paramount+? Because you never had it in the first place?' The remark highlights the frustration felt by many in the entertainment industry as contract disputes continue to impact production and broadcasting schedules across the United States. While not a direct boycott of Paramount itself, the sentiment suggests a desire to exert pressure on media conglomerates that own affected networks and streaming platforms.
The WGA strike, which began in May, has seen writers campaigning for better pay, improved residual payments from streaming services, and protections against the use of artificial intelligence. This was followed by the SAG-AFTRA strike in July, with actors joining the picket lines over similar concerns. The combined industrial action has brought much of Hollywood production to a standstill, significantly impacting the schedules of late-night talk shows which rely heavily on writers for monologues and sketches, and actors for guest interviews.
For UK audiences, the impact of these strikes on US programming is felt through various streaming platforms. Paramount+ serves as a significant hub for much of CBS content, including 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', which is available to stream in the UK via the service. Other US late-night shows, such as 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', are typically broadcast on E4 in the UK, while 'The Daily Show' airs on Sky Comedy and 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' on Sky Showcase, with catch-up options often available through Sky Go or NOW.
The current situation has led to an unprecedented period for late-night television, with hosts like Kimmel and Colbert, who are usually at the forefront of daily commentary and entertainment, unable to produce new content. This collective pause has sparked solidarity among hosts and their crews, as they navigate the financial and professional implications of the strikes. The call to cancel subscriptions, while perhaps light-hearted in its delivery, underscores the serious nature of the industrial action and the pressure being placed on studios and streamers to reach new agreements with the unions.
While there has been no official statement from Paramount+ regarding Kimmel's comments, the sentiment reflects a growing trend within the entertainment industry to leverage audience power in support of striking workers. The long-term effects on subscriber numbers for platforms like Paramount+ in the UK and globally, specifically due to such calls, remain to be seen, but the ongoing dialogue around fair compensation and working conditions in Hollywood continues to resonate.