Business

Financial Ramifications When TV Anchors Become the News

Published

11 years ago

February 13, 2015

This combination made from file photos shows NBC News’ Brian Williams, left, and Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart. When the TV news anchor becomes the news, the result is major buzz and a possible hit on ratings. But such changes as Williams getting a six-month suspension and Stewart leaving The Daily Show won’t make much of a difference to the networks owners, at least in overall revenue. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, Peter Kramer)

MAE ANDERSON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — When the TV news anchor becomes the news, the result is major buzz and a possible hit on ratings.

But such changes as NBC’s Brian Williams getting a six-month suspension and Jon Stewart leaving Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” won’t make much of a difference to the networks’ owners, at least in revenue.

The media landscape is changing, with more people opting for streaming TV rather than live broadcasts. News watchers are increasing choosing cable news or the Web over nightly news programs on NBC, CBS or ABC. Still, marquee names like Brian Williams and Jon Stewart bring in millions of dollars in advertising revenue. Here’s a look at the financial ramifications when TV anchors make news themselves.

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DECLINING NEWS VIEWERS

Total ad revenue at ABC, CBS and NBC has risen 11 percent over the past decade, but revenue from nightly news programs has fallen 4 percent over the same time period, according to Jon Swallen, Kantar Media’s chief research officer for North America. NBC’s “Nightly News,” the top-rated evening network news show, generated roughly $160 million in ad revenue last year — just $27 million more than No. 3 CBS, according to Kantar Media.

If that $27 million difference ends up being how much NBC loses, that’s still less than 0.5 percent of the network’s total annual ad revenue, according to Swallen. And NBC is just one part of Comcast Corp.

For context, NBC’s Super Bowl broadcast on Feb. 1 grossed more in ad revenue than “Nightly News” did for 2013 and 2014 combined, Swallen said. A 30-second Super Bowl ad was going for $4.5 million.

Cable channels like Viacom Inc.’s Comedy Central are growing, so the departure of a big name can make a difference. Morningstar analyst Neil Macker compared the Stewart announcement to the departure of Stephen Colbert, who left Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” to replace David Letterman on CBS.

“It’s a loss, but we’ll see who they get to replace Jon Stewart,” he said. “Looking at Viacom, it’s not the end of the world for the company and the channel. … Viacom has 21 channels and ‘The Daily Show’ is one show on one channel.”

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AD RATES IN FLUX

“The Daily Show” will take a hit in ad rates when Stewart leaves later this year, but it may get a bump until then, said Darcy Bowe, a vice president at media agency Starcom MediaVest Group.

Most ad buying is done ahead of time, so ad time is mainly booked through September, said Jackie Kulesza, an executive vice president at Starcom. She said Comedy Central should announce succession plans over the next few months so advertisers will be inclined to make long-term commitments in May and June for the following 12 months.

Ad buys can also be made in the short term, but there likely isn’t much still available with a popular show like “The Daily Show.” Bowe expects demand to be particularly high in the final quarter of the year, which is likely when Stewart will leave. That will drive up prices.

“It’s Stewart’s last hurrah,” she said. “Advertisers will capitalize on the buzz and the ending of an era.”

It’ll be difficult for Comedy Central to find another marquee name to replace Stewart, said Horizon Media senior vice president of research Brad Adgate. “The Daily Show” draws about 2 million viewers, largely thanks to Stewart’s appeal.

“He was really a brand for Comedy Central,” Adgate said.

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC