NBC’s late-night lineup has delivered ratings wins for the fourth quarter of 2010, as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” has taken its hour over all cable and broadcast entertainment competition in viewers 18-49 and total viewers and out-delivered CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman” in all key ratings categories.
At 12:35 a.m. ET, “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” out-delivered CBS’s “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in adults, men and women 18-49; adults men and women 18-34; and adults and men 25-54.
“Tonight” and “Late Night” significantly improved on their year-ago positions relative to CBS’s “Late Show” and “Late Late Show.” “Tonight” won the fourth quarter over “Late Show” by a 10 percent margin in viewers 18-49 (1.283 million vs. 1.179 million), up from a 1 percent win last year (1.369 million vs. 1.359 million). Jimmy Fallon topped “Late Late Show” for the quarter by 17 percent (806,000 vs. 691,000), versus a tie last year (801,000 vs. 801,000).
In total viewers, “Tonight” topped “Late Show” for the quarter by an 8 percent margin (3.871 million vs. 3.590 million), reversing the order of one year ago, when “Late Show” led by a 66 percent advantage (4.221 million vs. 2.546 million). At 12:35 a.m. ET, Jimmy Fallon cut the year-ago “Late Late Show” lead down to 2 percent (1.790 million vs. 1.762 million) from its year-ago 40 percent (1.949 million vs. 1.396 million).
Versus the fourth quarter of last year, “Tonight” matched its year-ago 1.0 rating in adults 18-49 and finished within 6 percent of its year-ago 18-49 viewership (1.283 million vs. 1.369 million), while “Late Show” was down 10 percent in rating (0.9 vs. 1.0) and down 14 percent in 18-49 viewers (1.170 million vs. 1.359 million). At 12:35 a.m. ET, Jimmy Fallon matched his year-ago 0.6 rating in adults 18-49 and was up 1 percent in 18-49 viewers (806,000 vs. 801,000), while “Late Late Show” was down in rating by 17 percent (0.5 vs. 0.6) and down in 18-49 viewers by 14 percent (691,000 vs. 801,000).
In total viewers, “Tonight” is up 52 percent versus its average viewership for the first 14 weeks of last season (3.871 million vs. 2.546 million), while “Late Show” is down 15 percent (3.590 million vs. 4.221 million). At 12:35 a.m. ET, Jimmy Fallon is up 26 percent versus his year-ago pace in total viewers (1.762 million vs. 1.396 million), while “Late Late Show” is down 8 percent (1.790 million vs. 1.949 million).
Jay and Jimmy concluded their victorious fourth quarters with strong results for the closing week of the quarter, December 20-24. Jimmy generated his biggest adult 18-49 audience (885,000 viewers) in 15 weeks (since the week of September 6-10).
Through the quarter, Jay ranked #1 versus “Late Show” for 13 of 14 weeks in adult 18-49 viewers and 12 of 14 weeks in total viewers, while Jimmy Fallon finished #1 every week versus “Late Late Show” in 18-49 viewers and led five of the last six weeks in total viewers.
At 1:35 a.m. ET, “Last Call with Carson Daly” was up in the fourth quarter versus one year ago by 10 percent in 18-49 viewers (495,000 vs. 451,000) and up 24 percent in total viewers (992,000 vs. 802,000).
WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of December 20-24. Ratings reflect “live plus same day” data from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Fourth quarter 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,” 1.0 rating, 4 share*
CBS “Late Show,” 0.9/4 *
11:35 p.m.-12:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Nightline,” 0.9/3*
12:05-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 0.5/2 (in encore telecasts)*
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Late Night,” 0.7/4*
CBS “Late Late Show,” 0.5/3*
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC “Last Call,” 0.4/3 (in encore telecasts)*
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Tonight,” 4.1 million viewers*
CBS “Late Show,” 3.7 million viewers*
11:35 p.m.-12:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Nightline,” 3.8 million viewers*
12:05-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 1.5 million viewers (in encore telecasts)*
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Late Night,” 1.9 million viewers*
CBS “Late Late Show,” 1.9 million viewers*
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC “Last Call,” 1.0 million viewers (in encore telecasts)*
* Friday results were excluded from these averages due to the Christmas Eve holiday.
FOURTH QUARTER / SEASON TO DATE
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Tonight,” 1.0 rating, 4 share
CBS “Late Show,” 0.9/4
11:35 p.m.-12:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Nightline,” 1.0/4
12:05-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 0.5/3
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,” 0.4/3
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Tonight,” 3.9 million viewers
CBS “Late Show,” 3.6 million viewers
11:35 p.m.-12:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Nightline,” 3.9 million viewers
12:05-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC “Kimmel,” 1.7 million viewers
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC “Late Night,” 1.8 million viewers
CBS “Late Late Show,” 1.8 million viewers
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC “Last Call,” 1.0 million viewers
SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF DECEMBER 20-24:
NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, “The Daily Show,” 0.4
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, “The Colbert Report,” 0.3
TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, “Conan,” 0.7
TBS, midnight-1 a.m., “Lopez Tonight,” 0.3
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.0
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.7
Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.31 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. “The Daily Show,” 0.8 million
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, “The Colbert Report,” 0.6 million
TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, “Conan,” 1.3 million
TBS, midnight-1 a.m., “Lopez Tonight,” 0.6 million
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 2.5 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.7 million
(source: NBC)
