After signing a four-year renewal with the show last year, TBS has announced that Conan O’Brien’s Conan will be reduced from an hour to a half-hour format in 2019. TBS is also expanding it’s partnership with O’Brien’s Team Coco and plans on expanding its touring and online ventures in connection with the late-night series.
Conan released his remarks on the change with the announcement:
“Since I inherited my Late Night show in 1993, TV has changed exponentially. I’d like to think I have evolved with many of these changes, but now it’s time to take the next leap. A half-hour show will give me the time to do a higher percentage of the comedy in, and out, of the studio that I love and that seems to resonate in this new digital world. It’s still going to be me hosting a very silly show, but I want segments on my half-hour program to link to digital content, deepening the experience for my younger fans, and confusing my older ones.”
The late-night veteran will continue to host nightly 4 nights a week but beginning next year the show will move to a 30-minute time slot. The switch is being made mostly to keep up with the evolving ways people experience entertainment. The newly-expanded Team Coco will look to broaden the content offered on the platform. Former Otter Media Executive VP Billy Parks has been tapped to fill the new position of Chief Brand Officer and will be responsible for overseeing the expansion of the platform. Conan has the youngest average audience of any late-night show and has dominated the internet with over 3 billion views online. Parks will work with Conan producer Jeff Ross to grow Team Coco’s portfolio with new content like the “Clueless Gamer” featured on the show now.
“Not only does Conan have an epic history of working on one of the most prestigious and long-running shows in comedy, the way he and his team have evolved the show over the past five years to create touch points that weave linear, digital and live for fans and brands is impressive. I am excited to be a part of the team as TBS and Team Coco double down on being funny everywhere,” Parks said.
Also, as Conan celebrates 25 years on late-night this year, Team Coco will work with NBC and TBS to release the comedian’s full catalog online.
