NBC via press release, spins the 2007-8 annual late night ratings results:
JAY DELIVERS HIS 13TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR-LONG RATINGS WIN IN 18-49 AND UNDEFEATED Conan MAKES IT 14 IN A ROW
'TONIGHT' AND 'LATE NIGHT' ARE ESPECIALLY DOMINANT AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS, AS JAY AND Conan STRETCH THEIR MARGINS TO 57 PERCENT AND 89 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY AMONG ADULTS 18-34
IN ADULT 18-34 RATING, CARSON DALY TIES FERGUSON AND KIMMEL FOR THE BROADCAST YEAR
BURBANK, Calif. – September 25, 2008 – NBC has wrapped up the 2007-08 broadcast year as the #1 network in late-night over all cable and broadcast competition, with "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" completing its 13th season in a row at #1 among adults 18-49 and undefeated "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" wrapping up its 14th straight season at #1 in its time period.
For the completed broadcast year, Jay delivered a 32 percent margin in adult 18-49 viewers over CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" and a 36 percent margin in total viewers. At 12:35 a.m. ET, Conan completed the broadcast year with a 39 percent margin over CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" in 18-49 viewers and a 14 percent advantage in total viewers.
Jay and Conan were especially dominant in the younger half of the target 18-49 demo, with Jay outscoring Letterman for the broadcast year by a 57 percent advantage among adults 18-34 and Conan besting Ferguson by 89 percent.
In the valuable adult 18-34 demographic, Conan out-delivered Letterman for the broadcast year (479,000 viewers vs. 438,000), despite Conan's later start time.
"Tonight" dominated all broadcast and cable competition during the broadcast year, topping Comedy Central's 11 p.m. ET series "The Daily Show" in adult 18-49 viewers by a 74 percent margin (1.787 million adults 18-49 vs. 1.025 million) and beating Comedy Central's 11:30 p.m. series "The Colbert Report" by 124 percent (1.787 million vs. 797,000). Conan also defeated all cable competition in his time period in adult 18-49 viewers. Versus Adult Swim programming in that hour, Conan prevailed by a margin of 91 percent (984,000 vs. 514,000).
In adults 18-49, "Tonight" has won 50 sweep months in a row, 52 consecutive quarters (including ties) and 13 television seasons in a row. Conan has won 55 sweep months in a row, 55 consecutive quarters and 14 straight television seasons.
In averages for the broadcast year, "Last Call with Carson Daly" finished within a tenth of a rating point of Ferguson in adult 18-49 rating. In adults 18-34, "Last Call" tied Ferguson and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" for the 2007-08 year (0.4 rating each).
For the completed 2007-08 broadcast year, "Tonight" averaged 1.787 million adult 18-49 viewers versus 1.356 million for "Late Show"; in total viewers, Jay's audience of 4.747 million persons beat Letterman's 3.496 million; and in adults 18-34, Jay's 688,000 out-delivered Letterman's 438,000. At 12:35 a.m. ET, Conan's 984,000 adults 18-49 for the season outscored Ferguson's 707,000; in total viewers, Conan's 1.884 million beat Ferguson's 1.649 million; and in adults 18-34, Conan's 479,000 topped Ferguson's 253,000.
WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of September 15-19. Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day.")
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.2/5
CBS "Late Show," 0.8/4 (in encore telecasts)
ABC "Nightline," 0.9/4
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 0.5/2*
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.7/4
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.5/3
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.4/3*
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 4.6 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.7 million viewers (in encore telecasts)
ABC "Nightline," 3.2 million viewers
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 1.5 million viewers*
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.8 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.5 million viewers
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 1.0 million viewers*
* "Last Call" was an encore on Friday and "Kimmel" was an encore on Monday.
THIRD QUARTER AVERAGES
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.3/5
CBS "Late Show," 0.8/3
ABC "Nightline," 0.9/3
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 0.5/2
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.7/4
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.5/3
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.4/3
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 4.6 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.9 million viewers
ABC "Nightline," 3.1 million viewers
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 1.4 million viewers
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.8 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.4 million viewers
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 1.0 million viewers
COMPLETE 52-WEEK 2007-08 BROADCAST YEAR AVERAGES
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.4/6
CBS "Late Show," 1.0/4
ABC "Nightline," 1.0/4
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 0.6/3
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.8/4
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.5/3
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.4/3
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 4.7 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.5 million viewers
ABC "Nightline," 3.3 million viewers
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 1.6 million viewers
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.9 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.6 million viewers
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 1.1 million viewers
SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15-19
NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING
Comedy Central, 11 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 0.9
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET, "The Colbert Report," 0.7
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.7
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.4
Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.31 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 1.9 million
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET, "The Colbert Report," 1.4 million
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.7 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.0 million
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
Those watching Conan obviously never bothered to check out Craig. Craig Ferguson’s skills and humor are miles above Conan’s (quite entertaining himself).
People need to discover Craig-he is so totally funny! Conan does not compare. Craig is a genius and creative and gives the best interviews of any of them. People just don’t want to change channels! Wake up! Discover the best!
Obviously the people compiling these numbers are not looking very accurate on this. Conan is yesterday’s news. I, like so many others I know, do not watch Craig Ferguson ….the problem is that he’s on too late for those of us who work….however network suits, get with the program…we don’t have to watch him…..newsflash !! Myself and everyone I know TiVo him each and every night and never miss his show. He is the funniest man on late night tv. I’m 60 years old and I TivO him…..I’ve got two kids in college…they and all their friends TiVo him. Wake up….he should be on prime time instead of buried after Letterman
I agree with all three people who said that Conan is yesterday’s news, Craig Ferguson is the real late night genius. He’s facial expressions are funnier than those others with their canned jokes, reading off cards, cue cards or teleprompters.
I realize that many of his viewers have to work next day so they tivo him. I have tivoed every show since finding him Jan. 2006, I transfer them to DVDs and hope to always have a collection that when I am feeling down and need a lift or just a good laugh they will be there to use. IF you don’t use a VCR, DVR, or a tivo you are missing the greatest comic. A few nights ago he was compaired with Johnny Carson by an old time comedian who know what they are talking about.