via NBC press release:
JAY LENO AND JIMMY FALLON WIN THE LATE-NIGHT WEEK OF MAY 4-8 IN 18-49 AND ALL OTHER KEY DEMOS
JAY DELIVERS BIGGER AUDIENCES THAN 'LATE SHOW' AND JIMMY OUT-DRAWS 'LATE LATE SHOW' IN ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-34; ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-49; AND ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 25-54
'TONIGHT' STRETCHES ITS SEASON-LONG LEAD OVER 'LATE SHOW' VERSUS ONE YEAR AGO TO 30 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR'S 25 PERCENT IN 18-49 VIEWERS
FALLON HAS FINISHED #1 IN THE 12:35 A.M. HOUR ON 49 OF 50 NIGHTS IN 18-49 RATING, INCLUDING TIES
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – May 14, 2009 – NBC's late-night stars have won the week of May 4-8 in adult 18-49 viewers and other key categories, as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" took the 11:35 p.m. ET hour over CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" by a 31 percent margin in 18-49 and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" prevailed at 12:35 a.m. over CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" by a 15 percent margin.
Both Jay and Jimmy won the week in every key ratings demographic -- adults, men and women 18-34; adults, men and women 18-49; and adults, men and women 25-54 -- over "Late Show" and "Late Late Show" respectively.
Jay is increasing his leads over Letterman this season versus last, establishing a 30 percent margin over Letterman in 18-49 viewers, up from a 25 percent lead at this point last season, and a 34 percent advantage in total viewers, up from last year's 29 percent. Jimmy Fallon leads Ferguson for their 10 weeks of competition by a 42 percent advantage in 18-49 viewers and 15 percent in total viewers. Both Jay and Jimmy stretch their season leads among younger adults, with Jay enjoying a 48 percent margin in 18-34 viewers season to date and Jimmy Fallon out-delivering Ferguson so far by 69 percent.
Since his March 2 debut, Jimmy Fallon has finished #1 in the time period among the broadcast networks on 49 of 50 nights in adult 18-49 rating, including three ties.
For the week of May 4-8, Jay's average 1.701 million adults 18-49 topped the 1.299 million of CBS's Letterman; in total viewers, Jay's audience of 4.855 million persons beat Letterman's 3.596 million; and in adults 18-34, Jay's 614,000 out-scored Letterman's 480,000. At 12:35 a.m. ET, Jimmy Fallon's 923,000 adults 18-49 for the week out-delivered Craig Ferguson's 802,000; in total viewers, Jimmy's 1.867 million trailed Ferguson's 1.873 million; and in adults 18-34, Jimmy's 402,000 topped Ferguson's 318,000.
WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of May 4-8. 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," 1.3 rating, 5 share
CBS "Late Show," 1.0/4
ABC "Nightline," 1.0/4
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 0.5/3*
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.7/4
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.6/4
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.4/3*
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 4.9 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.6 million viewers
ABC "Nightline," 3.7 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," 1.9 million viewers
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 1.0 million viewers*
* Monday's "Last Call" and "Kimmel" were encores.
SEASON TO DATE
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.4/6
CBS "Late Show," 1.1/4
ABC "Nightline," 1.1/4
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 0.6/3
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," 0.8/5
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.6/3
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.5/3
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 5.1 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.9 million viewers
ABC "Nightline," 3.9 million viewers
12:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Kimmel," 1.7 million viewers
12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," 2.1 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.9 million viewers
1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 1.2 million viewers
SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF MAY 4-8
NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING
Comedy Central, 11 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 0.7
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET, "The Colbert Report," 0.6
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 1.32 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 1.6 million
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET, "The Colbert Report," 1.2 million
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.8 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.0 million
It will be interesting to see how Falon does when Conan replaces Jay. Jay(4.9) –> Falon(1.9) when Letterman(3.6) —> Fergy(1.9) basically Falon lost 1.3 million viewers more than Fergy from the previous hour. If Conan cannot maintain Jays numbers especailly in the fall then Falcon may lose to Fergy. Also Falcons number are eroding over time.
Hideho. Late night television viewers!
So does this mean that the “weekly viewer numbers” are not the “mostest importantest” numbers? Or is it still “Season to date” average numbers of viewers that’s important. I’m getting whiplash from all the back and forth. Cause if it’s the “season to date” viewers? Jimmy Fallon’s 2.1 million viewers is looking pretty good compared to Mr. Ferguson’s 1.9 million.
On the other hand? The theory that if the lead in show does good so will the following show isn’t doing so good. I got to admit that the “tie” in the Avg number of viewers for the week between Mr Ferguson and Mr. Fallon is deceptive. I mean it’s a tie. Who actually wins in a tie? But a closer look has even me saying, “Not so fast.” Considering that Mr. Fallon lost viewers to get to that tie and Mr. Ferguson gained or rather maintained viewers? It would mean that at least Mr. Ferguson didn’t do worse. So I guess “not doing anything more” versus “losing viewers” would mean that a tie here might not really be a tie … oh heck. You know how you’re going to spin this if you’re a FoF (Fan O’Ferguson).
But since I’m neutral here?
The “Flying Scot of Late night” still didn’t win it folks. But even this pragmatist has got to admit that he’s coming pretty durn close. We’ll see.
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Sigh I smell BBQ, sunscreen, and fresh “Brazillian” wax in the air.
Got to heed the call.
Intern Jack.