NBC Late Night Continues to Dominate Competition

By: Mar. 27, 2014
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"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Late Night with Seth Meyers" have continued to generate elevated ratings in Fallon's fifth week on the air and Meyers' fourth, with Fallon scoring a three-week high in adults 18-49 for the week.

"The Tonight Show's" 1.35 rating for March 17-21 is up from a 1.32 the prior week and a 1.34 the week before that, making this the top Fallon average since his second week on "Tonight" (Feb.24-28).

Fallon's 1.35 last week topped the combined results of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (0.69) and encores of CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" (0.50). Note: "Kimmel" aired an encore on Friday, while Thursday and Friday "Late Shows" are excluded from these averages due to basketball overruns.

In his fifth week on "Tonight," Fallon was up 2% versus his week-four rating in 18-49 (1.35 vs. 1.32) and in total viewers he was up week to week by 4% (4.419 million vs. 4.260 million). Compared with the same week last year, Fallon was up 73% versus "Tonight's" year-ago 18-49 rating (with a 1.35 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 vs. the year-ago 0.78/3) and up 25% in total viewers (4.419 million vs. 3.522 million).

In its fourth week, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" retained 97% of its week-three rating in 18-49 (0.67 vs. 0.69). In total viewers, the retention of week three was 96% (1.854 million vs. 1.936 million). Meyers nearly tied Kimmel last week in 18-49 rating (0.67 vs. 0.69), despite starting an hour later, and topped Kimmel in men 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34.

Meyers scored gains compared with the same weeks last year, up 37% versus "Late Night" results for the year-ago week in 18-49 (0.67/4 vs. 0.49/3) and up 16% in total viewers (1.854 million vs. 1.602 million).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" (0.37 in 18-49) topped CBS's "Late Late Show" (0.33) in adults 18-49 and nearly tied ABC's "Nightline" (0.38), despite starting an hour later.

WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of March 17-21. Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted.

ADULTS 18-49


11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.35 rating, 6 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.50/2 *
ABC "Kimmel," 0.69/3 *


12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.38/2


12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.67/4
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.33/2 *


1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.37/3 *

TOTAL VIEWERS


11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 4.419 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.317 million viewers *
ABC "Kimmel," 2.729 million viewers *


12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.580 million viewers


12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.854 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.290 million viewers *


1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.984 million viewers *

* "Late Show" aired encores last week, while Thursday and Friday CBS programming was excluded from weekly averages due to NCAA basketball overruns. Friday's "Last Call" and "Kimmel" were encores.

SEASON TO DATE (SINCE FEB. 17), "LIVE PLUS SAME DAY"

ADULTS 18-49


11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.70 rating, 8 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.55/2
ABC "Kimmel," 0.68/3


12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.41/2


12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.76/5
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.35/2


1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.38/3

TOTAL VIEWERS


11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 5.395 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.674 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.636 million viewers


12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.589 million viewers


12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 2.132 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.319 million viewers


1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 1.059 million viewers

SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF MARCH 17-21


NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING


Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 0.39 **
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Colbert Report," 0.30 **

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.37 **

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.85
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.59


Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.27 million viewers.


TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. "The Daily Show," 0.808 million **
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Colbert Report," 0.647 million **

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.781 million **

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.829 million viewers
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.278 million viewers

** "The Daily Show," "The Colbert Report" and "Conan" were rebroadcasts last week. "Conan's" Thursday episode was delayed by NCAA basketball and is excluded.

Each rating point equals 2.89 million viewers



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