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.
After a week of rebroadcasts, late-night returned with several new episodes for the week of September 2. Audiences flocked to the new offerings, with ABC, NBC and CBS seeing week-to-week late-night total audience growth.
NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon averaged 1,338,000 total viewers to go with a whopping 747,000 P18-49 for the starting Sept. 2. That’s according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data for three new episodes and two rebroadcasts — one on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 2), and another on Friday, Sept. 6. Fallon’s Thursday (and ultimately weekly) Nielsen ratings performance was bolstered by NBC’s primetime presentation of the 2024-’25 NFL regular season opener on Thursday. With help from the Ravens vs. Chiefs Thursday lead-in, Fallon’s Tonight Show saw growth of +39% in total viewers and +99% in P18-49 for the week relative to the five days of repeats the week before.
Elsewhere, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert averaged 1,979,000 total viewers with 223,000 P18-49 for the week of Sept. 2. That’s according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data from three new episodes (Tues-Thurs) and Labor Day Monday and Friday rebroadcasts. CBS’ 11:35 p.m. offering gained +55% in total viewers and +54% in P18-49 from the repeat-filled week before.
Despite Jimmy Kimmel’s return to 11:35, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! took third place this past week in the ratings, both in total viewers and among Adults 18-49. Kimmel drew an average of 1,328,000 total viewers with 150,000 P18-49 for the week of Sept. 2, +47% and +15%, respectively, from the repeat-filled week prior. Week of Sept. 2 ratings for Jimmy Kimmel Live! are based on Nielsen data from three new episodes (Tues-Thurs) with Monday and Friday repeats.
At 12:35 a.m., NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers averaged 934,000 total viewers with 193,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s +56% and +99%, respectively, from the previous week, and by far the largest deliveries in the show’s timeslot. Late Night‘s week of Sept. 2 Nielsen averages are based off data from three new episodes and two rebroadcasts, whereas Late Night‘s ratings for the week prior are based exclusively off of rebroadcasts.
CBS’ After Midnight also logged viewership gains last week. Per Nielsen live-plus-three-data, the program averaged 602,000 total viewers with 108,000 viewers aged 18-49 (+29% and +57%, respectively, week-to-week). After Midnight‘s week of Sept. 2 Nielsen ratings are based on data from three new episodes and two rebroadcasts, as opposed to the previous week’s five rebroadcasts.
Elsewhere at 12:35 a.m., ABC’s Nightline averaged 716,000 total viewers with only 91,000 P18-49 viewers this past week, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s +8% but -8%, respectively, from the week prior. Nightline‘s week of Sept. 2 averages are based on Nielsen data from five new episodes, with the Labor Day episode labeled “special.”
The week’s complete ratings charts follow below. (Note that Comedy Central did not air The Daily Show the week of September 2.)
Weekly Live+3 Ratings (Viewers 2+)
| Network | Show Name | Total Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 1,328,000 | 4.52 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | 1,979,000 | 6.81 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 1,338,000 | 5.55 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | *Nightline | 716,000 | 3.39 |
| CBS | After Midnight | 602,000 | 3.12 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers | 934,000 | 5.37 |
Weekly Live+3 Ratings (18-49 demo)
| Network | Show Name | Total Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 150,000 | 2.38 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (R) | 223,000 | 3.48 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (R) | 278,000 | 5.43 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | *Nightline | 91,000 | 1.97 |
| CBS | After Midnight | 108,000 | 2.51 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers | 193,000 | 5.03 |
© The Nielsen Company, used under license.
