Keep in mind that things can change a lot with these numbers, when the broader national numbers are released later, and we'll post those numbers if/when we see them. But last night, Leno outrated Letterman in household rating in Nielsen's 56 metered markets 3.5 to 3.1. In only the 25 markets with local People Meters The Tonight Show edged Late Show 1.3 to 1.1 with adults 18-49. We've seen cases where the 18-49 lead reversed once a broader slice of the country was included, and we've seen cases where the overnight numbers held up. We've seen both of those instances this week, so we'll have to wait and see.
- "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (3.5/9 in metered-market households) out-delivered CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.1/8) and ABC's "Nightline (3.0/7) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.5/5) in Nielsen's 56 metered markets.
- In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (1.3/6) ranked #1 among the major networks in the time period over "Late Show" (1.1/5), "Nightline" (1.1/5) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (0.6/4).
- At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.6/4).
- At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.
Meh, Leno vs. Letterman, who cares? Conan released his tour dates today!
You are the first person to comment. So far you care more than anyone!
Nah we're just all too busy buying Conan tickets to care much about Leno vs. Letterman.
Keep spinning, you will only post numbers that show Leno winning. If it's not overall, it's key demo, if it's not key demo, it's an obscure demo. This website is bias.
Conan couldn't hack it.
Dave and Jay are pretty close and make the networks money
It would be really nice to see these numbers as a chart, now that Leno's been back a bit. Daily numbers have a fairly high uncertainty associated with them, and while it's fun to watch them every day (fun for me at least, or else why would I be visiting this site?!) they're not very meaningful. But the overall trend has much less (sampling) uncertainty.
What? Unless I'm mistaken the numbers, overall and demo, have been posted every day so far.
I did chart the Conan vs. Letterman weekly ratings. Likely I will do the same for the Leno vs. Letterman ones, once we have a few weeks under our belts.
I'm number one! o/
Rob, it's you who is biased. We were all over the “Letterman Wins” on Monday night. But now we've moved on to Thursday night. We post the numbers, whatever they are. If Letterman wins viewers, demo, etc, we will say “Letterman Sweeps Leno!”
We really don't care who wins, neither one of us watch late night.
It would be interesting to see these numbers compared to the same week a year ago. It's starting to look like even if NBC wins, they're still losing.
this website is anything but bias. they just call it like it is. plus, they give you the stats so you can make of it whatever you want.
Wow. Just noticed your new commenting system. Nice job. Love this.
Leno has lost a few points, otherwise it's pretty much the same. He may or may not regain some of those points in the coming months, but NBC has managed to start winning the timeslot again. They've also stopped the daily media coverage of their late night failure- coverage which began as far back as last June.
I have DirecTV and when I push the “Active” button it shows the top 5 watched shows at that minute, in the Eastern time zone, where I am and each time Letterman was number 1. Last night Leno during the first half hour was 5Th on the list and Letterman 1ST. In the second half hour when I checked Letterman was still first but Leno was second. My guess is the older viewers that were watching Nightline moved to Leno. What is odd is on DirecTV Letterman is winning yet in the TV raings he is losing. No conspiracy theory, just though worth mentioning.
@Scott, that's a pretty cool capability.
It is. It also shows top 5, nationally, movies and sports. I am surprised to see some of the top 5, like one of the HGTV shows. Usually one of the FOX Cable talk shows is in the mix.
Leno's monologue is far better than Letterman's and doesn't include assaults on Sarah Palin.
Letterman's lame jokes and pathetic sexual deviations with his staff all combine to represent his decline toward oblivion.
Is a no brainer that this site favors Leno. Are you an extension of Fox news?
Yay for Leno!