Week of August 19, 2024 Ratings: Colbert’s Late Show Dominates Timeslot Competition

Note: LateNighter generally posts late night weekly live-plus-three ratings on a three (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention coverage delayed start times for late-night programming last Monday through Thursday, and caused an uneven trend in program viewership.

Of course, someone still had to win the week of August 19 Nielsen ratings race, and that someone was CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Originating from Chicago, site of the DNC, The Late Show dominated the competition in total viewers, averaging 2,018,000 for the week of August 19. The program also averaged 242,000 P18-49 viewers, per Nielsen live-plus-three-day data. That’s -3% in total viewers but up +25% in P18-49 viewers from the week before (starting August 12). The Late Show‘s week of August 19 Nielsen ratings averages are based are based off data from four new episodes, and a rebroadcast on Friday. The previous week’s ratings are also based off of four new episodes, and a Friday rebroadcast. However, the week of August 12 telecasts all aired in the regular 11:35 p.m., whereas the week of August 19 Monday through Thursday episode start times were delayed because of the DNC.

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! continues to feature guest hosts this summer, with Rupaul taking show reins for the week of August 19 (Monday-Thursday). Kimmel averaged 867,000 total viewers with 125,000 P18-49 for the week, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s -25% and -22% , respectively, from the week before (guest-hosted by Jeff Goldblum in the regular 11:35 p.m. slot). Jimmy Kimmel Live! week of August 19 ratings averages are based off of data from four new episodes, and a rebroadcast on Friday. The same was true for the week before.

NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon averaged 846,000 total viewers with 151,000 P18-49 viewers for the week, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. However, that’s % and % , respectively, from the previous week. The Tonight Show week of August 19 ratings averages are based off of data from four new episodes, and a rebroadcast on Friday. The same was true for the week of August 12 (but they aired at 11:35 p.m.).

Following Fallon, NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers averaged 623,000 total viewers with 101,000 P18-49 for the week of August 19, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s -31% and -31%, respectively, from the previous week (when Late Night aired in its usual 12:35 a.m., slot). Late Night‘s week of August 19 Nielsen averages are based off data from four new episodes and a Friday broadcast. That was also true the week before.

CBS’ After Midnight‘s week of rebroadcasts (post-2 a.m.) averaged 578,000 total viewers with 102,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s -6% and -6%, respectively, from the week prior (which also featured rebroadcasts, albeit in the 12:35 a.m. slot). 

ABC’s Nightline averaged 589,000 total viewers with 85,000 P18-49 viewers this past week, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s -22% and -19%, respectively, from the week prior. Nightline‘s week of August 19 averages are based on Nielsen data from five first-run episodes (Mon-Fri), also true for the week prior.

Comedy Central’s The Daily Show took its show to Chicago this past week for the DNC, and viewers flocked to the program. Its special episodes for the week of August 19 averaged 1,126,000 total viewers with 203,000 P18-49, which is second-most on all of late-night. That’s +28% in total viewers and +22% in P18-49 viewers from the prior week of episodes.

It’s also worth noting that last Monday-Wednesday Daily Show episodes started at 11 p.m., whereas the Thursday installment started at 11:30 p.m.

Weekly live+3 ratings (18-49 demo)

Weekly live+3 ratings (Viewers 2+)

© The Nielsen Company, used under license.