LateNighter: New Digital News Site Focuses on Late-Night TV
Portland, Oregon - Amid challenging economic times and a shrinking television audience, veteran entertainment journalist Jed Rosenzweig launched a new digital news site, LateNighter, in February 2024. The platform and its newsletter aim to cover late-night television comedy with insights and detailed reporting.
Key Details of the Launch:
- Founder: Jed Rosenzweig, former creator of High Def Digest and owner of Primetimer.
- Launch Date: February 2024.
- Focus: Late-night TV shows.
- Staff: Two full-time employees.
- Initial Contributors: Bill Carter, former New York Times writer, and Eric Deggans, NPR TV critic.
Content Highlights:
- Recaps of late-night monologues.
- Oral histories and analysis pieces.
- Weekly evaluations of "SNL" performances and late-night host ratings.
- Regular livestreams and roundtables discussing recent episodes.
- Upcoming podcast hosted by comedian Mark Malkoff.
Despite a decline in TV ratings, with the major networks' late-night shows down from a combined average of 10.5 million viewers a decade ago to 4.8 million today, Rosenzweig believes there is enduring interest in the genre. LateNighter aims to fill the void left by traditional media and provide a central hub for late-night TV enthusiasts.
Conclusion
LateNighter's unique angle and comprehensive coverage seek to capture the evolving landscape of late-night comedy, leveraging both historical perspective and modern online media practices. The site remains self-funded but will soon introduce paid ads to support its operations.