Oct. 2024 Ratings: Colbert and Kimmel Gain Viewers

Note: Nielsen ratings for new, first-run episodes which aired in October 2024 are included below. Data for repeat telecasts is excluded from this report.

New month, similar trend: CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert delivered more viewers than its 11:35 p.m. time slot competition in October 2024. Not only did The Late Show out-perform its counterparts in multiple measurements, it posted month-to-month and year-over-year viewer growth as well.

In Oct. 2024, Colbert’s Late Show averaged 2,841,000 total viewers with 311,000 P18-49. That’s based on Nielsen live-plus-seven-day data for 13 new episodes in October. The program gained +6% in total viewers and +5% P18-49 viewers from its September 2024 Nielsen averages; and gained +8% and +4%, respectively, from The Late Show‘s Oct. 2023 averages.

Continuing to benefit from a Monday Night Football ratings halo effect, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged a solid 2,113,000 total viewers with 270,000 P18-49 in October. That’s up +13% in total viewers and +9% among P18-49 from September 2024, up +12% but down -9%, respectively, from the show’s year-ago (Oct. 2023) averages. These averages are based on Nielsen live-plus-seven-day data for 12 new Kimmel episodes that aired last month.

NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon finished third in total viewers and third among viewers 18-49 at 11:35 p.m. in October. For 12 new episodes, Fallon averaged 1,280,000 total viewers with 195,000 P18-49. That’s down -6% in total viewers and -19% among viewers 18-49 from the show’s relatively high-rated September. The program also shed -9% in total viewers and -18% among P18-49 relative to the year-ago month (Oct. ’23).

At 12:35 a.m., NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers presented 12 new episodes in October, which averaged 1,031,000 total viewers with 152,000 P18-49. That’s up +1% in total viewers but down -8% among P18-49 from the show’s September averages in those measurements; and up +9% but down -9%, respectively, from the show’s year-ago (Oct. 2023) averages.

CBS’ After Midnight presented 12 new episodes of the Taylor Tomlinson-led comedy panel program in October, and they averaged 720,000 total viewers with 161,000 P18-49 at 12:35 a.m. That’s up +2% in total viewers and +9% among P18-49 from the show’s September averages in those measurements (After Midnight did not exist in October 2023, so there are no year-over-year comparisons).

ABC News’ Nightline aired 20 new half-hour episodes in October, which averaged 959,000 total viewers with 137,000 P18-49, per live-plus-seven data. That’s up +9% in total viewers and up +1% among P18-49 from the show’s September 2024 averages in those measurements. On the downside, Nightline shed -2% in total viewers and -21% in P18-49 viewers this past month relative to the show’s October 2023 averages.

Comedy Central’s The Daily Show delivered another month of audience growth in October 2024 after what was a pretty strong September. The program’s 15 new episodes averaged 1,130,000 total viewers with 218,000 P18-49 in October. That’s up +0.3% and +5%, respectively, from the show’s September averages, +128% and +69%, respectively, from its October 2023 averages (which didn’t have the benefit of Jon Stewart being back at the desk).

Live+7 ratings (Viewers 2+)

Live+7 ratings (18-49 Demo)

© The Nielsen Company, used under license.