After nearly 30 years on the air, Access Hollywood is finally coming to an end. This is the end of an era for one of television’s most trusted sources of celebrity news.
Since it’s launch in 1996, Access Hollywood has provided exclusive interviews, red carpet events and behind the scenes access to the world of entertainment. Now run by Mario Lopez, for decades the show has been a staple for all those seeking instant access to Hollywood’s biggest events, but now with the rise and evolution of digital media, the show has met its competition.
Why Is It Being Canceled
NBCUniversal will no longer be involved with the production of first-run syndicated television programs, which include daytime shows such as Access Hollywood, Access Live, Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show.
“NBCUniversal is making changes to our first-run syndication division to better align with the programming preferences of local stations” stated Francis Berwick, Chairman of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, who oversees the division.
This means that NBCUniversal has made the decision that the syndicated studio model is not sustainable, taking into consideration the preferences of local TV stations that are incorporating more local and national news, community-centered programming, and select franchises.
As Access Hollywood comes to an end, viewers across the country now say goodbye to a show that has long been a staple in entertainment news. Video podcasts have emerged in recent years, creating a large gap between talk shows.
Podcasts usually have more celebrity content, true crime stories and many of the same subjects as traditional TV shows, but with a cheaper production cost.
These daytime shows have been a staple in homes around America for a long time and gave people something to watch on a regular weekday when nothing else is on. Additionally, people now get their pop culture news information via their phones, through online media and social media, making daily news such as Access Hollywood practically useless.
What’s Next?
For its 28th season in broadcast syndication, which was during the 2023-24 season, Access Hollywood averaged over 1.1 million viewers daily and is one of the top entertainment news programs in syndication.
It might be the end of an era for NBC, but another big factor in the entertainment journalism space is Warner Bros. Shows like CBS’s Entertainment Tonight is still in production, along with Inside Edition and Extra, which all have the same style of celebrity news.
Access Hollywood will continue to deliver for its local station partners, such as top markets including New York (WNBC), Chicago (WMAQ), Philadelphia (WCAU), Dallas (KXAS) and San Francisco (KNTV).
With Access Hollywood coming to an end, viewers across the country are now saying goodbye to a show that has long been a staple in entertainment news.
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