NBC Late Night Dominates Timeslot Competition in 4th Quarter 2015

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has delivered a dominant ratings win for the fourth quarter of 2015, outscoring CBS's "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in every key measure - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.

In 2014 and 2015, Fallon has delivered "Tonight's" two highest-rated fourth quarters in adults 18-49 since 2008. His 1.10 rating this year and 1.17 rating during the year-ago quarter are "Tonight's" two best in a fourth quarter since 2008 (1.34).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" also dominated the quarter, stretching his margin over CBS's "Late Late Show with James Corden" to +50% in adults 18-49 (with a 0.51 rating versus a 0.34), up from last year's +46% (0.51 vs. 0.35). Meyers also increased his advantage over ABC's "Nightline" in their head-to-head half-hour from 12:30-1 a.m. ET to +47% (0.56 vs. 0.38 for that half-hour), up from the year-ago +39% (0.57 vs. 0.41).

Meyers retained 100% of his year-ago 18-49 rating for the fourth quarter (0.51 vs. 0.51) and grew +4% in total viewers (1.658 million vs. 1.588 million), +3% in adults 25-54 (0.65 vs. 0.63) and +11% in men 25-54 (0.61 vs. 0.55).

At 1:35 a.m. ET, "Last Call with Carson Daly" generated a +4% increase in total viewers versus the fourth quarter of 2015 (921,000 vs. 888,000) and was also up +3% in adults 25-54 (0.39 vs. 0.38) and +9% in men 25-54 (0.36 vs. 0.33).

Meyers concluded the fourth quarter with a 0.45 rating for encore telecasts during the holiday week of Dec. 21-25 (all Thursday and Friday telecasts were preempted or excluded), to tie that week's rebroadcasts of "Colbert" (0.45) and finish within 0.04 of a point of the week's "Kimmel" encores (0.49), despite Meyers' start time one hour later.

WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Dec. 21-25. Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Fourth quarter / 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" 0.85 rating, 4 share (R)*
CBS "Late Show," 0.45/2 (R)*
ABC "Kimmel," 0.49/2 (R)*

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.37/2 *

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.45/3 (R)*
CBS "The Late Late Show," 0.31/2 (R)*

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.23/2 (R)*

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 3.085 million viewers (R)*
CBS "Late Show," 2.065 million viewers (R)*
ABC "Kimmel," 2.211 million viewers (R)*

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.564 million viewers *

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.438 million viewers (R)*
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.016 million viewers (R)*

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.729 million viewers (R)*

* Thursday and Friday telecasts were pre-empted or excluded due to the Christmas holiday.

FOURTH QUARTER 2015 / SEASON AVERAGES

ADULTS 18-49

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.10 rating, 5 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.74/4
ABC "Kimmel," 0.59/3

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

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.51/3
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.34/2

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.30/3

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 3.923 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.038 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.494 million viewers

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.593 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.658 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.256 million viewers

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.921 million viewers

SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF DEC. 21-25

NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," pre-empted
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Nightly Show," pre-empted

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.34 (R)

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.67
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.48

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

TOTAL VIEWERS

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," pre-empted
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Nightly Show," pre-empted

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.723 million (R)

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.494 million viewers
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.040 million viewers

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