September 2024 Ratings: Viewership Grows for Top Late-Night Shows

NoteNielsen ratings for new, first-run episodes which aired in September are included below. Data for repeat telecasts is excluded from this report.

After a quiet August, late-night viewership soared in September. All of the major shows posted month-to-month growth, aided by an overall increase in first-run episodes, major broadcast news events (including a presidential debate), and a Monday Night Football lift for ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Amid all of this change, a familiar face kept the late-night Nielsen ratings crown: CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show averaged more total viewers and P18-49 viewers in September 2024 than its late-night counterparts, 2,673,000 and 295,000, respectively. That’s based on Nielsen live-plus-seven-day data for 14 new episodes in September. Colbert’s Late Show gained +10% in total viewers and +16% P18-49 viewers from its August 2024 Nielsen averages.

Benefiting from an ABC News presidential debate lead-in, a Monday Night Football ratings halo effect, and the return of Kimmel himself, Jimmy Kimmel Live! delivered more month-to-month growth than its counterparts, even moving past NBC in the key P18-49 demographic. ABC’s 11:35 p.m. offering averaged 1,876,000 total viewers with 248,000 P18-49 this past September. That’s +82% and +75%, respectively, from the show’s August 2024 performance. The aforementioned numbers are based on Nielsen live-plus-seven-day data for 15 new episodes in September 2024.

NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon finished third at 11:35 p.m. last month, both in total viewers (1,357,000) and among P18-49 (242,000). That said, for 15 new episodes, Fallon gained +26% in total viewers and +38% in P18-49 from the show’s low-rated August.

At 12:35 a.m., NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers took first place in September. Meyers presented 14 new episodes last month, and they averaged 1,025,000 total viewers with 166,000 P18-49. That’s up +26% and +36%, respectively, from the show’s August 2024 averages in those categories.

After a repeat-filled August, CBS’ After Midnight saw expected audience growth in September. CBS presented 14 new episodes of the Taylor Tomlinson-led comedy panel program last month, and which averaged 704,000 total viewers with 148,000 P18-49 at 12:35 a.m. That’s up +36% and +63%, respectively, from the show’s August averages in those measurements.

ABC News’ Nightline aired 24 new, half-hour episodes in September, which averaged 882,000 total viewers with 135,000 P18-49, per live-plus-seven data. That’s +30% and +41%, respectively, from the show’s August ’24 performance in those measurements. Additionally, Nightline gained +10% in total viewers and +2% in P18-49 viewers this past month relative to the show’s September 2023.

The Daily Show also saw audience growth in September 2024 after what was a pretty strong August. The program averaged 1,127,000 total viewers with 207,000 P18-49 at 11 p.m. That’s up +10% and +12%, respectively, from the show’s August averages.

Live+7 ratings (Viewers 2+)

NetworkShow Name / (# of first-run eps)Total Viewers% Share
11:00 PM
CCThe Daily Show (11)1,127,0002.95
11:35 PM
ABCJimmy Kimmel Live! (15)1,876,0006.67
CBSThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert (14)2,673,0009.32
NBCThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (15)1,357,0005.07
12:35 AM
ABC*Nightline (24)882,0004.23
CBSAfter Midnight (14)704,0003.66
NBCLate Night With Seth Meyers (14)1,025,0005.49
* = 30-minute program

Live+7 ratings (18-49 Demo)

NetworkShow Name / (# of first-run eps)Viewers% Share
11:00 PM
CCThe Daily Show (11)207,0002.50
11:35 PM
ABCJimmy Kimmel Live! (15)248,0004.19
CBSThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert (14)295,0004.78
NBCThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (15)242,0004.31
12:35 AM
ABC*Nightline (24)135,0002.99
CBSAfter Midnight (14)148,0003.52
NBCLate Night With Seth Meyers (14)166,0004.12
* = 30-minute program

© The Nielsen Company, used under license.

1 Comment

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  1. Michael P Leary says:

    got failed to get about 5 million at night so I guess you mean to say in your headline broadcast late night TV. I am not a MAG a person but this complete slant of all mainstream media and I include Fox on that is very concerning. this story is simply inaccurate as gutfell beats Colbert by a factor of two and crushes Seth Meyers 5 to 1 yet he’s listed as for