Arsenio Hall's return to latenight TV is another sign of broadcast TV's shifting demographic targets. The move by CBS Television Distribution and Tribune Broadcasting to launch a Hall-hosted latenight talkshow strip in fall 2013 was driven by Hall's appeal to a distinct demo, the 35-54 set, who still watch a lot of broadcast TV the old-fashioned way.
In his first go-round in latenight, from 1989-1994, Hall became a hit in part because he appealed to a younger audience than Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Jay Leno. Now those first-wave "Arsenio Hall Show" viewers are in their 40s and 50s, and CBS TV Distribution and Tribune are banking on them being game to check him out again.
Arsenio Hall Communications and Octagon Entertainment Prods. will co-produce with CTD, with Hall and Octagon Entertainment's John Ferriter serving as exec producers.
