To see past week's Late Night TV ratings information click here.
Via NBC's Press Release
‘TONIGHT’ AND ‘LATE NIGHT’ DELIVER BIGGER 18-49 AND TOTAL-VIEWER AUDIENCES THAN THE ABC AND CBS TIME-PERIOD COMPETITION
SEASON TO DATE, JAY HAS STRETCHED HIS TOTAL-VIEWER LEAD OVER ‘Late Show’ TO 15 PERCENT FROM THE YEAR-AGO 8 PERCENT AND JIMMY FALLON HAS INCREASED HIS MARGIN OVER ‘LATE Late Show’ TO 15 PERCENT FROM 0.3 PERCENT
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – April 19, 2012 – NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” has delivered #1 rankings in viewers 18-49 and total viewers for the week of April 9-13, generating bigger audiences in adults 18-49 and total viewers than its time-period competition of CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" and ABC's combination of "Nightline" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
At 12:35 a.m. ET, NBC’s "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" ranked #1 ahead of CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and head to head versus ABC’s "Kimmel" in viewers 18-49 and total viewers, delivering bigger audiences than “Late Late Show” in every key ratings category: adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.
At 1:35 a.m. ET, NBC’s “Last Call with Carson Daly” delivered an 11 percent gain versus the same week last year in total viewers, with an average of 995,000 persons versus the year-ago 897,000.
Through the first 30 weeks of the season, "Tonight" has increased its total-viewer margin over "Late Show" to 15 percent (3.747 million vs. 3.264 million), up from the year-ago season-to-date advantage of 8 percent. Jimmy Fallon has also established a total-viewer lead over "Late Late Show" this season of 15 percent (1.780 million vs. 1.545 million), up from last year's advantage of 0.3 percent. Jimmy has also increased his season-to-date lead over "Late Late Show" in adults 18-34, to 40 percent (278,000 vs. 199,000) up from last year's 23 percent, and in adults 25-54, up to 10 percent (874,000 vs. 792,000) up from 2 percent at this point last season.
"Tonight" delivered a bigger 18-49 audience than "Late Show" for the 14th time in 17 weeks while Jimmy Fallon attracted a bigger 18-49 audience than "Late Late Show" for a 20th week in a row.
WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of April 9-13. Ratings reflect “live plus same day” data from Nielsen Media Research 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.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Tonight,” 0.8 rating, 3 share
CBS “Late Show,” 0.7/3
11:35 p.m.-12 midnight ET
ABC “Nightline,” 1.0/4
12 midnight-1 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 0.5/2*
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Late Night,” 0.5/3
CBS “Late Late Show,” 0.4/2
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC “Last Call,” 0.3/2*
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Tonight,” 3.4 million viewers
CBS “Late Show,” 2.9 million viewers
11:35 p.m.-12 midnight ET
ABC “Nightline,” 4.0 million viewers
12 midnight-1 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 1.9 million viewers*
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Late Night,” 1.6 million viewers
CBS “Late Late Show,” 1.3 million viewers
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC “Last Call,” 1.0 million viewers*
* Friday’s “Last Call” and “Kimmel” were encores.
SEASON TO DATE
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Tonight,” 0.9 rating, 3 share
CBS “Late Show,” 0.9/3
11:35 p.m.-12 midnight ET
ABC “Nightline,” 0.9/3
12 midnight-1 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 0.5/2
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Late Night,” 0.6/3
CBS “Late Late Show,” 0.5/3
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC “Last Call,” 0.3/2
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Tonight,” 3.7 million viewers
CBS “Late Show,” 3.3 million viewers
11:35 p.m.-12 midnight ET
ABC “Nightline,” 3.9 million viewers
12 midnight-1 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 1.8 million viewers
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Late Night,” 1.8 million viewers
CBS “Late Late Show,” 1.5 million viewers
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC “Last Call,” 1.0 million viewers
SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF APRIL 9-13
NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, “The Daily Show,” 0.7
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, “The Colbert Report,” 0.6
TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, “Conan,” 0.5
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.9
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.6
Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.28 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. “The Daily Show,” 1.7 million
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, “The Colbert Report,” 1.3 million
TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, “Conan,” 0.9 million
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 2.2 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.4 million
:
“No offense, but what am I looking at with that link? Looks like a dissertation.”
I’m not offended. Stuart, it is one page with a big chart in the middle of it.
It says that Nightline averaged 5.6 million viewers a decade ago. That’s 43% higher than today. There is also the line “Season to date, the program’s 18-49 demo is down 6%, to a 1.6 (rating).” That is 77% higher than today.
^For Thursday 4/20/2012
Looks like Ferguson heavily relies on Letterman viewers.
I know GAR, I was just trying make you feel appreciated for all those times you did post it.
Another implication from that chart, Stuart, is that Maher was getting absolutely annihilated by 2nd place David Letterman head-to-head. Whereas the margin between Kimmel and Jay/Dave is pretty slight.
In other words: by the standards of that era, Maher’s numbers at the end of his run were very low. While Kimmel’s are just below par for the course.
Right Gary, but you yourself have, on many occasions, noted how sharply lower viewership is now, as compared to say, 11 years ago.
They’re all just trending lower towards zero. That’s the basic math. But even taking into account it was only 30 minutes, Maher’s PI show was more popular and more highly rated, even relatively speaking. But I’ll admit it’s apples and oranges.
I wasn’t arguing the efficacy of Nightline, either way. But Kimmel does lose a massive amount of viewers out of a show that has the same age group tuning in.
Lastly, I will say that I’d bet the ranch Jimmy Kimmel’s current show never spins off into a huge award winning hit on HBO. Check and mate to Maher.
“But even taking into account it was only 30 minutes, Maher’s PI show was more popular and more highly rated, even relatively speaking.”
No, it’s the exact opposite. The numbers could not be clearer.
“But Kimmel does lose a massive amount of viewers out of a show that has the same age group tuning in.”
Maher lost far, far more.
What awards has Maher won? I know he gets plenty of acclaim but isnt he the biggest Emmy loser without a win? He’s at least up there on the list.
Aaron, great call on Thursday’s Conan rating. Possibly a year-to-date high. These TBS numbers are getting incredibly volatile.
After an AWFUL Wednesday, Conan bounces back to 0.7 on Thursday. Still no explanation for the atypical low.
Bill Maher: a-hole, bigot, clown… I think I can find a politically incorrect word for each letter on the dictionary describing him.
*For each letter in the alphabet. Sorry for the mistake.
Hector, in the past decade of late night, Emmy wins have run pretty dry for anybody not named Jon Stewart.
Conan’s show has started to improve. They’re finally making more effort to do longer comedy skits, instead of short 3-5 minute sketches.
So, Maher avg fewer than 1.8 million viewers 11 years ago Gary? They kept him on the air, until his 9/11 rant with a measly 1.8? Prove it!
“So, Maher avg fewer than 1.8 million viewers 11 years ago Gary? They kept him on the air, until his 9/11 rant with a measly 1.8? Prove it!”
No, Maher averaged 2.5 million. Kimmel is pretty close to that for the equivalent half hour, maybe about 10% less, but that’s a 5-day average that includes a rerun.
The difference is that broadcast television viewing among all networks was way bigger back then, so 2.5 million was a) completely uncompetitive and b) losing significantly more of the Nightline lead-in.
The fact that Maher’s 2002 numbers were basically on par with anybody’s 2012 numbers indicates how very badly he was doing.
Kimmel averages 2.25 million in his first half hour? On what planet?
Prove THAT now!
Gary, your poor butt must be exhausted from all the silly numbers you’re pulling out of it.
Apart from the fact that GAR posted the numbers frequently, it’s kind of obvious.
If you average 1.8 million for the hour, and the audience dives about 35% from the first half hour to the second (people go to sleep at night), then the math dictates 2.2 million in the first half hour and 1.4 million in the 2nd.
I’ve seen GAR’s list of numbers many times and it’s always something like: First half hour Kimmel 1.8, second half hour 1.2, or the like. I’d always assumed networks cherry picked the highest number and say that’s what the show is pulling. Why are they not saying it’s getting a 2.2? Also, for a half hour show, do they take the average of each 15 minute increment, using your definition?
You seem to have anointed yourself the de facto leader of this site. Please show me where it says 2.2 in a top half hour for Kimmel, Gary. I’ve never seen anything to substantiate your bloviating.
Stuart, you seem to be the one who anointed Gary the leader of the site. Don’t put that on him.
And by the way, Gary knows what he’s talking about.
It seems like you are confusing ratings points with viewer numbers, but I don’t know as much as Gary either.
I think that last comment might come off badly in a way I didn’t intend. I just meant I could be wrong as well.
I’m not putting Bill Maher down. I really shouldnt say much because I’ve never really watched him. He was on for around ten years before Stewart started dominating the Emmys. (Though I think Letterman won like 5 years in a row before Stewart)
Conan and Colbert snatched 3 Emmys for writing from Stewart though.