Note: LateNighter’s late night daily ratings reports are drawn from Nielsen live-plus-same-day data and do not take include delayed and/or streaming views. They are generally posted on a two (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.
ABC and NBC took advantage of CBS’ late-night shows being dark on Wednesday. Not only did the networks split first place at 11:35 p.m., and 12:35 a.m., respectively, but each delivered day-to-day and week-over-week viewer growth in the timeslots.
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! was the most-watched show at 11:35 p.m., having averaged 1,812,000 total viewers with 245,000 P18-49 on Wednesday, October 9. That’s up +22% in total viewers and +49% in P18-49 from the night before, and +17% and +63%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday. Quinta Brunson, and Henry Winkler made guest appearances on the program, and the Offspring performed.
While Kimmel averaged the largest total linear audience in the timeslot, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon captured the most P18-49 viewers this past Wednesday. Featuring guests Pharrell Williams, and Rachel Sennott, and a performance by Finneas, Wednesday’s Fallon averaged 1,466,000 total viewers with 256,000 P18-49. That’s up +44% in total viewers and +33% among P18-49 from the night before, and +6% and +31%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode.
While Kimmel and Fallon aired new episodes, CBS re-aired The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s Sept. 19, 2024 episode on Wednesday night (featuring guests Anderson Cooper, and Sting). The 11:35 p.m. broadcast averaged 1,314,000 total viewers with 155,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s down -55% in total viewers and -48% among P18-49 from the night before (the highly-rated Kamala Harris episode). The program also shed -27% in total viewers and -34% in P18-49 from the previous Wednesday’s new episode.
Hitting fast-forward, the Wednesday, Oct. 9 episode of NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers averaged 981,000 total viewers with 188,000 P18-49. Featuring guests Riley Keough, Eric Idle, Wednesday’s episode gained +27% in total viewers and +38% in P18-49 from the night before. Week over week, Meyers gained +3% in total viewers, and +18% in P18-49 from the previous Wednesday.
Following Kimmel, ABC’s late night half-hour Nightline averaged 1,031,000 total viewers with 105,000 P18-49 at 12:35 a.m. That’s up +23% in total viewers and +7% among P18-49 from the night before, and +30% and +14%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode.
After Midnight did not air a new episode on Wednesday, Oct. 9. CBS re-aired the show’s Sept. 17, 2024 episode (featuring guest panelists Atsuko Okatsuka, Dylan Adler, Reggie Watts), and the 12:35 a.m. broadcast averaged 523,000 total viewers with 95,000 P18-49. That’s down -40% in total viewers, and -23% in P18-49 from the night before (also a repeat), up +3% and -26%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s new episode.
Guest-hosted by Jordan Klepper, Wednesday’s episode of The Daily Show averaged 473,000 total viewers with 75,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s down -9% in total viewers and -36% among P18-49 from the night before (also hosted by Klepper). The Oct. 9 episode gained +4% in total viewers but shed -6% in P18-49 viewers from the previous Wednesday’s Daily Show (which was hosted by Michael Kosta). Author Jessica Valenti was Klepper’s guest on the program this past Wednesday.
Wednesday’s complete ratings charts follow below.
Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)
Network | Show Name | Viewers | % Share |
---|---|---|---|
11:00 PM | |||
CC | The Daily Show | 473,000 | 1.17 |
11:35 PM | |||
ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 1,812,000 | 5.87 |
CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (R, 9/19/24) | 1,314,000 | 4.30 |
NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 1,466,000 | 4.82 |
12:35 AM | |||
ABC | * Nightline | 1,031,000 | 4.58 |
CBS | After Midnight (R, 9/17/24) | 523,000 | 2.56 |
NBC | Late Night with Seth Meyers | 981,000 | 4.67 |
Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)
Network | Show Name | Viewers | % Share |
---|---|---|---|
11:00 PM | |||
CC | The Daily Show | 75,000 | 0.86 |
11:35 PM | |||
ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 245,000 | 3.65 |
CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (R, 9/19/24) | 155,000 | 2.33 |
NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 256,000 | 3.87 |
12:35 AM | |||
ABC | * Nightline | 105,000 | 2.12 |
CBS | After Midnight (R, 9/17/24) | 95,000 | 2.12 |
NBC | Late Night with Seth Meyers | 188,000 | 4.07 |
Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.