NBC's TONIGHT SHOW Outperforms 'Late Show' in 18-49 and Total Viewers

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has won premiere week of the 2015-16 season (Sept. 21-25), growing week to week to top CBS's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in both adults 18-49 and total viewers despite Colbert's boost from Tuesday's appearance by Donald Trump.

For a full five-day ratings week, it's Fallon's best performance in five months in 18-49 rating (1.05, best since April 6-10, 1.06) and most-watched in 10 weeks (3.581 million, best since July 13-17, 3.740 million). Those comparisons exclude the high-rated four-day holiday week of Sept. 7-11 (when "Tonight" guests included Donald Trump and Justin Timberlake, and Thursday's high-rated NFL overrun boosted ratings), with Monday's Labor Day results excluded.

Versus the prior week, Fallon was up +6% in 18-49 (1.05 vs. 0.99 for Sept. 14-18). Also, despite much higher-rated "Late Show" competition this year versus last, Fallon finished within 5% of his premiere week result of one year ago in 18-49 (1.05 vs. 1.10) and within 8% in total viewers (3.581 million vs. 3.894 million).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" delivered its biggest regular five-day week in seven months in 18-49 (0.54, best since Feb. 16-20, 0.57, excludes Labor Day week, Sept. 7-11). At 1:35 a.m. ET, "Last Call with Carson Daly" scored its high in 10 months (0.35, best since Nov. 17-21, 2014, 0.37, excludes Labor Day week). In total viewers, it was Meyers' high for a regular five-day week in six months (1.610 million, best since March 2-6, 1.614 million, excludes Labor Day week) and Daly's high in 10 months (975,000, best since Nov. 17-21, 2014, also 975,000, excludes Labor Day week).

Week to week, Meyers grew +17% in 18-49 (0.54 vs. 0.46) and Daly increased by +35% in 18-49 (0.35 vs. 0.26).

Versus the season premiere week last year, Meyers increased by +8% in 18-49 (0.54 vs. 0.50) and +6% in total viewers (1.610 million vs. 1.515 million), while Daly grew year-to-year by +13% in 18-49 (0.35 vs. 0.31) and +18% in total viewers (975,000 vs. 829,000).

Despite later start times, "Meyers" finished within 0.05 of a rating point last week of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 18-49 (0.54 vs. 0.59) and "Last Call" finished within 0.03 of both "Late Late Show" and "Nightline" (0.35 vs. 0.38).

WEEKLY AVERAGES

(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Sept. 21-25. 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" 1.05 rating, 5 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.78/4 *
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," 0.54/4 *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 0.38/3 *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.35/3 *

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

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 3.581 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.217 million viewers *
ABC "Kimmel," 2.501 million viewers

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.595 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.610 million viewers *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.357 million viewers *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.975 million viewers *

* Friday's "Late Night" and "Last Call" were encores. Thursday's "Late Show" and "Late Late Show" were delayed by an NFL overrun.

SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK SEPT. 21-25

NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, "@midnight," 0.19
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Nightly Show," 0.16

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.20

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.80
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.61

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

TOTAL VIEWERS

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "@midnight," 0.370 million
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Nightly Show," 0.381 million

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.420 million

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.599 million viewers
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.362 million viewers

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