The television landscape is buzzing with frustration after CBS decided to end Stephen Colbert's late-night program, prompting a wave of calls for a network boycott. High-profile figures like Jimmy Kimmel have publicly urged audiences to turn away from CBS entirely, including its high-profile sports coverage. But the question on everyone's mind is whether this protest will actually take hold among the NFL faithful.
Kimmel, speaking on his own ABC show, made a passionate plea: “On behalf of everyone at our show, we want to say to everyone at your show: It has been a pleasure to work alongside you. I will be watching tomorrow night. I hope that those of you who watch our show will also tune in to CBS for the last time. Don’t ever watch it again.” That sentiment has spread across social media, with users rallying under the hashtag #BoycottCBS.
CBS isn't just any network—it's a sports powerhouse. It broadcasts the NCAA Tournament, The Masters, and hundreds of NFL games each season. Its Sunday NFL coverage, anchored by Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, draws millions of viewers weekly. For those pushing the boycott, that means asking fans to skip some of the biggest football games of the year.
“Boycott CBS, Paramount and any Ellison product,” one user wrote on social media. Another added, “Thank you Stephen Colbert. No reason to watch CBS anymore.” Some fans expressed mixed feelings: “I am torn on this. If we boycott CBS, thousands of innocent people will lose their jobs.”
But the core of the movement—citing that “CBS canceled Stephen Colbert to appease Trump”—has ignited a political firestorm. While the boycott could gain traction among certain audiences, the NFL remains the undisputed king of American television. Nothing else comes close to its live viewership numbers.
History suggests that even passionate boycotts struggle to dent NFL ratings. For instance, recent efforts like the caitlin clark fan boycott of the Fever show how difficult it is to sustain a protest against a beloved sports product. Similarly, tennis stars at the French Open and even Novak Djokovic's stance on media boycotts highlight the challenge of uniting fans around a cause that conflicts with their entertainment habits.
Will the boycott movement pick up steam by the 2026 season? It's possible, but unlikely to cause a major dip in CBS's NFL numbers. The network has weathered controversies before, and the sheer gravitational pull of football often overrides political or cultural grievances. As one observer noted, “Nothing in American entertainment is as big as the NFL.”
For now, the call to boycott CBS remains a loud but niche rallying cry. Whether it becomes a defining story of the 2026 NFL season—or fades into the background—depends on how many fans are willing to trade touchdowns for a statement.
