Why Isn't The Late Show with David Letterman Available for Streaming – Insight into Licensing, Archival Challenges, and Market Demand
The Late Show with David Letterman is a beloved series that concluded its run in 2015, leaving fans eager to watch and rewatch episodes anytime they wish. However, the show's availability for streaming remains elusive. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this situation, including licensing issues, ownership challenges, and archival considerations.
Licensing Issues
Welcome to the world of licensing in the entertainment industry. The Late Show with David Letterman features a wide array of musical performances, celebrity interviews, and humor that involve complex licensing agreements. For example, the show includes performances by musicians, which are protected by copyright laws. These agreements can be exceedingly intricate, making it difficult to distribute content online.
Additionally, each performance, interview, or use of copyrighted material within a show requires separate permissions. This can significantly increase the cost and complexity of making content available on streaming platforms. Even a single missing or disputed license can delay or prevent the release of an episode. In the case of the Late Show with David Letterman, the series has various elements that add to this challenge, making it a thorny issue.
Ownership and Prioritization
The Late Show with David Letterman is owned by CBS Corporation (now known as ViacomCBS). While promoting its newer content through its own streaming service, Paramount , CBS may not have prioritized making this older series available on streaming platforms. Instead, they may have focused on more recent shows and series with a fresh audience to boost their streaming platform's subscriber base.
Other factors may also come into play. Streaming platforms often prioritize content that is seen as commercially viable. If the Late Show with David Letterman is not perceived to be a significant draw compared to other shows, it may not receive the necessary investment to make it available.
Archival Content and Digitization Costs
Archiving and digitizing older content, especially from a show as extensive as the Late Show with David Letterman, presents significant challenges. The series includes over 4,000 episodes, each filled with visual and audio content that needs to be carefully restored and converted to digital format. This process can be extremely costly, requiring specialized equipment, skilled staff, and advanced technology.
Moreover, the process of restoring older episodes and making them suitable for viewing on modern devices involves effort to ensure compatibility with current technology. This includes the removal of outdated digital noise, correction of color and sound issues, and ensuring smooth playback. The expected viewership may not justify these substantial expenses, leading to a decision by the owners to delay or forgo such restoration and digitization.
Market Demand and Viewership Considerations
The availability of the Late Show with David Letterman may also depend on the perceived market demand for the content. With a plethora of other shows and series competing for viewers, the Late Show with David Letterman may not have been deemed a priority for streaming. When viewers have numerous options to choose from, there may not be a clear market demand for this specific show, leading to its continued absence from streaming platforms.
Recent Developments
Notwithstanding the challenges, there have been recent developments. In February 2022, David Letterman launched a YouTube channel that includes archival clips from both the Late Night with David Letterman and the Late Show with David Letterman. This initiative not only provides fans with access to a wealth of content but also includes new interviews with Letterman, his staff, and past guests discussing the show's history. This move can be seen as a step towards making the Late Show with David Letterman more accessible to a wider audience.
Conclusion
While the Late Show with David Letterman is not currently available for streaming, the issues surrounding its licensing, ownership, and archival status are multifaceted and intricate. However, recent efforts by David Letterman himself to make select content available through YouTube signal potential avenues for the future. Fans and viewers can hope that with continued audience interest and any changes in the entertainment landscape, more of the show's content will become available in the future.
Key Takeaways:
Licensing Issues: Complex agreements with copyright holders can delay or prevent online distribution. Ownership: CBS Corporation's focus on newer content may influence decision-making. Archival Content: High costs of digitization and restoration may deter streaming. Market Demand: Perceived lack of demand can lead to limited investment in streaming availability.