Note: Nielsen ratings for new, first-run episodes are included below. Data for repeat telecasts is excluded.
Late night saw mixed ratings trends in May 2024, with some shows losing viewers, while others, specifically NBC’s, posted gains from the month prior. Still, one program stood above the rest in the May Nielsen ratings race: CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
According to Nielsen live-plus-seven-day data for May 2024, Colbert’s Late Show averaged 2,530,000 total viewers with 263,000 P18-49 viewers for 16 new episodes. That’s -2% and -10%, respectively, from its April 2024 averages.
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon split second place at 11:35 p.m. in May.
Fallon’s Tonight Show was the only 11:35 p.m. talker to post month-to-month gains in multiple audience measurements. The program averaged 1,473,000 total viewers with 237,000 P18-49 for 19 new episodes in May, per Nielsen live-plus-seven data. That’s +4% and +8%, respectively, from April.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged 1,816,000 total viewers with 215,000 P18-49 for 11 new episodes in May, per Nielsen live-plus-seven day data. That’s -2% but +3%, respectively, from the show’s April averages.
NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers aired 12 new episodes in May 2024, and won the 12:35 a.m. timeslot, both in total viewers (1,066,000) and in P18-49 (177,000), per Nielsen live-plus-seven data. The program gained +4% in total viewers, and +20% in P18-49 viewers from April.
CBS’ After Midnight averaged 688,000 total viewers and 141,000 P18-49 for its new 12 episodes in May, according Nielsen live-plus-seven data. That’s -3% in total viewers and -15% in P18-49 viewers from April.
ABC’s Nightline averaged 851,000 total viewers with 120,000 P18-49 viewers for 19 new episodes in May, per Nielsen live-plus-seven data. That’s -2% in total viewers and -3% in P18-49 from April.
Lastly, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show shed viewers in May. The show’s 962,000 total average was -5% from April, and its 179,000 P18-49 viewer average was -5% from April as well.
Live+7 ratings (18-49 Demo)
| Network | Show Name / (# of first-run eps) | Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 PM | |||
| CC | The Daily Show (12) | 179,000 | 1.97 |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (11) | 215,000 | 2.99 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (16) | 263,000 | 3.63 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (19) | 237,000 | 3.25 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | *Nightline (19) | 120,000 | 2.20 |
| CBS | After Midnight (12) | 141,000 | 2.87 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers (12) | 177,000 | 3.48 |
Live+7 ratings (Viewers 2+)
| Network | Show Name / (# of first-run eps) | Total Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 PM | |||
| CC | The Daily Show (12) | 962,000 | 2.35 |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (11) | 1,816,000 | 5.78 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (16) | 2,530,000 | 8.03 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (19) | 1,473,000 | 4.67 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | *Nightline (19) | 851,000 | 3.66 |
| CBS | After Midnight (12) | 688,000 | 3.24 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers (12) | 1,066,000 | 4.94 |
© The Nielsen Company, used under license.
