Stephen Colbert's ascent to The Late Show was big news, 'tis true — but in terms of viewers and impact on the late-night landscape overall, Colbert's replacement will be just as big a deal.

When The Colbert Report ends its run at the end of 2014, Comedy Central needs someone who can sustain the 1-2 ratings punch it and The Daily Show have enjoyed since their combined bloc surpassed even The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in key demos. In the past couple of years, the Stewart-Colbert "show" has become the most-watched late-night show among young people.

So, who will it be?

John Oliver would've been an easy choice after he held down the fort at The Daily Show last summer while Jon Stewart went off to direct his first feature film. Comedy Central saw no ratings dropoff. Oliver was praised all around — and that became a big problem.

With a fan base and a hosting credit on his resume, Oliver became an instant commodity and was looking to take a step up. People close to the situation tell Mashable that Comedy Central hated the prospect of losing him, but with no open slot in its lineup and the price-tag he was commanding, they couldn't work out anything.

Oliver signed a deal last November to go over to HBO for Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, a weekly news digest that premieres two weeks from Sunday. He made that deal with no knowledge that Colbert was quietly making plans to move out at the end of 2014. Is he kicking himself now? Maybe, but that HBO money will soften the blow.

Is Comedy Central kicking itself? Sure. But it has options and a proven track record of turning secondary characters into full-time stars, Colbert being the alpha example. What's more, the cable network has a golden opportunity here to quiet the chorus that's was clamoring for the diversification of late-night — before CBS confirmed an exclusive Mashable report that Colbert was the choice.

Current Daily Show correspondents Aasif Mandvi and Samantha Bee are established enough for a step up, and would be hailed among the diversity-first crowd, as would alum Wyatt Cenac, who built a following but left the show in late 2012. Larry Wilmore's devastatingly droll schtick seems too narrow for a full broadcast, while Jessica Williams and Al Madrigal are still too green to be considered contenders. The network loves Amy Schumer, but her show is just getting off the ground; and with an opportunity to truly innovate, it's unlikely that Comedy Central would just shuffle an existing show into Stewart's lead-out.

From outside the Comedy Central bubble, Aisha Tyler and Aziz Ansari's names have come up, while Chelsea Handler, once rumored for a CBS slot, seems an odd fit for the network's stable — as well as the newsy formula that's worked so well in that slot.

Some have suggested that Chris Hardwick's @midnight could shift a half-hour earlier, but that would be stealing Peter's jokes to get a giggle out of Paul. The show is progressing nicely at its midnight slot, and its hashtag wars are dominating Twitter despite the late hour. Plus, how awkward would it be to call the show @11:30?

Handicapping on this one has only just begun, and Comedy Central execs won't have nearly the lead time that CBS did in their search to replace Letterman. But make no mistake: When the network does finally name its replacement for The Colbert Report—which is absolutely, positively not going to be The Colbert Report or anything like it — the choice will mean at least as much as the one CBS just made.

Maybe more.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.