A Fan Guide to Tracking the Corporate Footprint That Took Down Stephen
Like many of you, I’m still furious about the corporate moves that led to last month's final curtain call for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Between CBS blocking segments and the newly finalized Paramount-Skydance takeover, it’s clear the new Ellison-led management did not value Stephen’s voice.
While a lot of fans are already canceling Paramount+ to protest the finale, a true boycott requires looking a bit deeper. Because David and Larry Ellison's Skydance Media acts as a massive content supplier across the entire industry, our subscription dollars might be quietly flowing right back to the people who took The Late Show away from us.
To help fans navigate the consolidated streaming landscape, here is the full breakdown of how to keep your distance from the Ellison empire.
🔴 Avoid Completely (Directly Controlled by Paramount Skydance) Following the original merger and the newly approved June 2026 acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the Ellison family now fully controls both legacy empires.
- Paramount+: The flagship streamer that pulled the plug on our late-night lineup.
- Max (formerly HBO Max): Now a core asset under the newly combined corporate umbrella.
- Discovery+: Included under the same newly merged management.
- SkyShowtime: The European joint venture carrying their combined catalog.
🟡 Use with Caution (Major "Customers" of Skydance) The Ellisons' production arm operates as a massive content supplier. While they don't own these platforms, subscribing directly funds their production deals. You can choose to skip these specific high-profile projects to avoid logging viewing metrics that justify their multi-million dollar contracts:
- Apple TV+: Massive multi-year development deal. Avoid: Foundation, The Big Door Prize, The Family Plan, and Luck.
- Netflix: Main home for Skydance Animation. Avoid: The Old Guard, The Adam Project, FUBAR, and Spellbound.
- Amazon Prime Video: Home to massive Skydance action hits. Avoid: Reacher, Jack Ryan, Cross, and The Terminal List.
🟢 Independent Alternatives (Safest Bets)
- Disney Bundle (Disney+ / Hulu): Direct major competitor to the Paramount/Warner giant; rarely licenses Skydance properties.
- Criterion Channel / MUBI: Excellent platforms for independent, classic, and international cinema completely separate from mainstream studio consolidation wars.