More changes may be on the horizon for Steve, the daytime talk show hosted by comedian and producer Steve Harvey.
In September, NBC announced it would give the time slot held by Steve on its owned-and-operated stations to the Kelly Clarkson Show in the fall.
Harvey was a headline speaker at the Variety Entertainment Summit Wednesday during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. He admitted he was blindsided by NBC’s decision to replace his show with a new entry from the American Idol winner and current Voice coach.
“I thought it would have been nice of them to come to me — as the only dude who’s survived [in daytime TV] for seven years — about it,” he said.
“I gotta make announcements too,” Harvey said coyly, adding, “It will be something real cute.”
That “real cute” project could potentially be something outside of daytime TV.
Read More: Steve Harvey Executive Producer Joining Kelly Clarkson Talk Show
Harvey described daytime TV as “a very tough space right now,” because of technology that lets viewers watch shows whenever they want. The landscape is also crowded and the competition is fierce.
Steve has already been renewed for the 2018-2019 season. But the comedian said “daytime television is dying.”
“My show… is the only show in the last seven years in syndication that has stuck,” he said.
He added that the current Nielsen ratings system that counts TV viewers is “archaic,” while Facebook and YouTube give concise viewing numbers and are the future.
Asked if he would consider Facebook as an option, Harvey responded: “I gotta look at it. I gotta be smart. I gotta think about it because that’s where it’s headed. It’s not in network television anymore. Syndication is dead.”
Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) suggests he might end NBCU deal for daytime talk show https://t.co/uiXXrZbbGz #VarietyCES pic.twitter.com/hK0PoXiOiV
— Variety (@Variety) January 9, 2019
Steve launched in 2017 in Los Angeles after the comedian quit his previous talk show, Steve Harvey, in Chicago after five seasons and re-branded the daytime talker as Steve.
IMG, which produces Steve, has reportedly been shopping the show to other syndication, cable, streaming, and broadcast outlets. In addition to hosting the show, Harvey has an ownership stake in Steve along with IMG.
Whether Harvey decides to take Steve off TV and onto the web remains to be seen.
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