NBCUniversal Cancels Several Long-Running Syndicated Shows

Access Hollywood, Karamo, and The Steve Wilkos Show to end production amid changing viewer habits and local station needs.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:20pm

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NBCUniversal is shutting down production of several of its first-run syndicated programs, including the long-running entertainment news show Access Hollywood, the talk show Karamo, and The Steve Wilkos Show. The decision marks a major shift for the company as it adapts to evolving viewer preferences and the programming needs of local TV stations.

Why it matters

The cancellation of these popular syndicated shows reflects broader changes in the television industry, as local stations prioritize news, community-focused content, and national franchises over traditional daytime talk programming. Rising production costs and declining daytime viewership have also made the syndication model more challenging to sustain, while competition from digital platforms offering similar content at lower costs has further disrupted the landscape.

The details

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. NBCUniversal cited the 'programming preferences of local stations' as a key factor in the decision to wind down these first-run syndicated shows.

  • Access Hollywood has been on the air for nearly three decades, debuting in September 1996.
  • 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.

The players

Frances Berwick

Chairman of Bravo and head of Peacock unscripted for NBCUniversal.

Mario Lopez

Current host of Access Hollywood.

Karamo Brown

Host of the talk show Karamo.

Steve Wilkos

Host of The Steve Wilkos Show, a former security guard on The Jerry Springer Show.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Frances Berwick, Chairman of Bravo and head of Peacock unscripted for NBCUniversal

What’s next

The company is expected to vacate its Stamford Studios in Stamford, Connecticut, where Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show were filmed, later this year.

The takeaway

The cancellation of these long-running syndicated shows reflects the evolving television landscape, as local stations prioritize news, community-focused content, and national franchises over traditional daytime talk programming. The rise of digital platforms offering similar content at lower costs has further disrupted the traditional syndication model, forcing NBCUniversal and other media companies to adapt their strategies.