Seth Meyers Takes Aim at CBS and Industry Mergers in Scathing NBCUpfronts Monologue
Late-night host Seth Meyers didn’t hold back during the NBCUniversal upfront event in New York City, delivering a series of sharp jabs at the network’s competitors and the shifting landscape of corporate media. While the event is traditionally used to showcase upcoming programming to advertisers, Meyers used his platform to roast CBS and its new ownership, blending industry critique with his signature political edge.
The Battle for Broadcast Supremacy
Meyers opened his routine by celebrating NBC’s current standing in the ratings. Noting that NBC was the top broadcast television network for the 2025-2026 season—a statistic cited by The Hollywood Reporter—Meyers took a victory lap at the expense of CBS.
“After over a decade, we have taken down CBS,” Meyers quipped. However, he quickly pivoted to the corporate turmoil surrounding the rival network, specifically referencing the merger between David Ellison’s Skydance and Paramount, the parent company of CBS. “Well, the Ellisons did, but I like to think we helped,” he added, suggesting that the network’s internal shifts had paved the way for NBC’s ascent.
Political Friction and Legal Settlements
Much of Meyers’ comedy centered on the perceived political leanings of CBS under its new leadership. He specifically targeted the network’s relationship with Donald Trump, joking that CBS is so “in the pocket” for the former president that next season’s Survivor would be filmed in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meyers also leaned into the legal drama surrounding the network’s history with Trump, referencing a defamation suit filed over a 60 Minutes episode. He joked that CBS skipped its own upfront presentation this year “because at CBS ‘upfront’ just describes how they paid Trump to drop the lawsuit.”
Streaming Wars and the Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal
Beyond the broadcast rivalry, Meyers touched upon the ongoing consolidation of the streaming market. He poked fun at Paramount’s efforts to take over Warner Bros. And the proposed merger of Paramount+ with HBO Max.
“So now you’ll get all your favorites in one place, plus Paramount+,” Meyers joked, highlighting the often-confusing nature of streaming mergers for the average consumer.
Self-Deprecation and the FCC
To round out the performance, Meyers turned the lens on himself, addressing the tension between late-night comedians and federal regulators. Referencing recent invectives from Donald Trump, Meyers delivered a punchy line about his standing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): “I’m Seth Meyers, or as the FCC calls me: ‘Next.’”
- Ratings Win: Seth Meyers highlighted NBC’s position as the #1 broadcast network for the 2025-2026 season.
- Corporate Critique: The monologue heavily criticized the Skydance/Paramount merger and its impact on CBS.
- Legal Jabs: Meyers mocked a settlement between CBS and Donald Trump regarding a 60 Minutes report.
- Streaming Consolidation: The host satirized the potential merger of Paramount+ and HBO Max.
The Future of Network Rivalries
Meyers’ performance underscores a growing trend where late-night hosts act as both entertainers and industry commentators. By blending ratings data with corporate gossip and political commentary, Meyers highlighted the precarious state of legacy media during a period of unprecedented mergers and political volatility.
As NBC celebrates its current dominance, the industry will be watching to see if the consolidation of Paramount and Warner Bros. Creates a competitor capable of challenging NBC’s top spot in the coming seasons.