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Fact check: Did colbert, maddow and kimmel join up for a new news network
Executive Summary
No credible evidence supports the claim that Stephen Colbert, Rachel Maddow, and Jimmy Kimmel have joined to form a new news network; multiple recent reporting threads describe crossover appearances and rumors but explicitly deny any coordinated launch or formal venture. Verified news outlets through September–October 2025 report guest appearances, show suspensions, and unconfirmed speculation, with fact-checkers tracing the network rumor to unverified social posts [1] [2].
1. Why the Claim Circulated — a TV Crossover Fueled Rumors
A high-profile crossover between Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert in late September 2025 produced viral moments that amplified speculation about deeper collaboration and potential new projects; the crossover showed the hosts appearing on each other’s shows, trading barbs about current politics, and drew significant social media attention [2]. That attention created fertile ground for unverified social accounts to spin narratives about a formal "newsroom" or network, converting comedic cross-promotion into alleged corporate plans. Reporting contemporaneous to the crossover makes clear that the appearances were entertainment promotions, not announcements of a new news enterprise [3] [2].
2. What Reporters Actually Found — No Reputable Sources Back the Network Story
Investigations by local and national outlets in September and October 2025 found no primary-source confirmation — no press releases, executive statements, filings, or corroboration from the talent or networks — that a joint news network exists or is being launched by Colbert, Maddow, and Kimmel [1]. Fact-check coverage explicitly traced the claim to low-credibility outlets and social posts, concluding the story is a likely mistruth circulating without documentary support. The absence of any official announcement from Comcast, Netflix, or other media platforms commonly involved in such deals was a clear red flag for reporters [4] [2].
3. Distinguishing Entertainment Crossovers from Corporate Collaboration
Late-night host interactions and guest appearances are commonplace promotional tools; they do not equate to corporate mergers or network launches. Reporting on Kimmel’s suspension and subsequent guesting by Colbert framed those interactions as professional solidarity and promotional crossovers rather than strategic business ventures [3] [2]. News outlets covering this period emphasized that while talent share platforms and occasionally collaborate artistically, these collaborations rarely translate into immediately announced business entities without accompanying legal and corporate documentation [4] [2].
4. How Fact-Checkers Traced the Rumor’s Origins
Regional fact-check outlets tracked the earliest mentions of a supposed “Independent Desk” and found them rooted in unverified social media threads and questionable websites rather than mainstream reporting or company communications [1]. The fact-check narrative documented the lack of reputable sourcing and flagged the story as likely misinformation, noting that credible outlets had no evidence beyond social posts. This pattern is consistent with other media rumors: viral amplification followed by retraction or contextual correction when standard journalistic verification fails [1].
5. Conflicting Reports About Potential Talent Deals — Unconfirmed Netflix Talk
Some entertainment-industry outlets published unverified speculation about potential deals involving late-night talents and streaming platforms in September 2025, including conjecture about Netflix interest in figures like Kimmel or Colbert. These pieces expressly labeled the information as unconfirmed and emphasized that neither Netflix nor the talent had confirmed any agreements [4]. Such reporting underscores a distinct difference between industry rumor and verified transaction; without contractual announcements or filings, these remain speculative and should not be read as evidence of a new news network.
6. Broader Context: Suspensions, Solidarity, and a Polarized Media Moment
The reporting environment around late 2025 included discussions of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, late-night hosts’ reactions, and concerns about free speech and media backlash, creating a charged context that made rumor more likely to stick [3]. News stories focused on peer reactions and the cultural moment rather than strategic business formation. Observers and outlets noted that the convergence of controversy and high-visibility guesting increased public appetite for an explanatory narrative — a void that rumor sites sought to fill.
7. What Would Count as Convincing Evidence Going Forward
A credible claim that Colbert, Maddow, and Kimmel were launching a joint news network would require verifiable documentation: formal company filings, press releases from known network partners, public statements from the talent, or reporting by mainstream outlets referencing those primary materials. As of the latest reporting in late September and early October 2025, none of these evidentiary thresholds have been met, and reputable outlets have repeated that no substantiation exists [1] [2].
8. Bottom Line — Current Status and How to Monitor
Based on cross-checked reporting through October 1, 2025, the claim that Colbert, Maddow, and Kimmel have joined a new news network is unsupported and appears to be misinformation originating from unverified social posts and speculative entertainment coverage [1] [2]. To monitor future developments reliably, prioritize primary documentation from involved parties and established media outlets; absent those, treat social-viral claims about major corporate ventures as unconfirmed.