Fringe Ratings Report: ABC Late-Night Programming
Week of February 23, 2015 / 2015 February Sweep
ABC is the Week’s Most-Watched Network in Late-Night
ABC Draws its Largest February Audience in Late-Night in 8 Years
ABC’s “Kimmel” Builds for the 3rd Week in a Row to a 4-Week High in Adults 18-49
“Kimmel” Draws its 2nd-Largest-Ever Sweep Audience in February
“Nightline” Delivers Increases Over the Year-Ago Week Across All Key Measures
“Nightline” Posts its Best-Yet February Sweep Total Viewer Number in its New Slot
ABC Late-Night (Monday – Friday)
With its late-night lineup of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” at 11:35 p.m. and “Nightline” at 12:35 a.m. during the week of February 23, 2015, ABC was the No. 1 network in Total Viewers in late-night (2.387 million), outdrawing NBC by 4% (2.301 million) and CBS by 20% (1.982 million).
During the 2015 February sweep, ABC grew over the year-ago sweep by 12% in Total Viewers to draw its biggest February audience in late-night in 8 years – since February 2007.
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For the 2nd sweep in a row, ABC ranked as the most-watched network in late-night (2.474 million), edging out NBC by 2% (2.419 million) and beating CBS by 19% (2.081 million).
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (M-F 11:35 p.m.)
During the week of February 23, 2015, which included the final 3 days of the February 2015 sweep, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” grew for the 3rd straight week in Adults 18-49 (832,000 vs. 822,000) to hit a 4-week high – since w/o 1/26/15.
“Kimmel” grew its overall audience year to year for the 5th consecutive week (+6% – 2.781 million vs. 2.632 million).
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ABC’s “Kimmel” was the week’s No. 2 late-night talk show in both Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers, behind only NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
During the 2015 February sweep, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” drew its 2nd-biggest overall audience ever for any sweep (2.829 million), behind only the 2014 November sweep. With the November and February sweeps, “Kimmel” has attracted its two largest-ever sweep audiences during the current 2014-15 season.
“Kimmel” was up over the 2014 February sweep (2.513 million) by 13% in Total Viewers, growing year over year for the 4th consecutive sweep. In fact, “Kimmel” attracted its largest-ever February audience for the 2nd time in 3 years.
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ABC’s “Kimmel” finished the February sweep as the No. 2 broadcast talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49 (823,000), behind only NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
“Nightline” (M-F 12:35 a.m.)
ABC News’ “Nightline” won the week versus its CBS and NBC competition in Total Viewers (1.714 million) during the week of February 23, 2015. The ABC News late-night program has ranked No. 1 for the 3rd week in a row and in 17 of the past 19 weeks. “Nightline led CBS’ “The Late Late Show” (+440,000) and NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (+94,000).
“Nightline” turned in year-to-year increases (1.567 million, 644,000, and 498,000, respectively, on w/o 2/24/14) for the 2nd straight week across all key target demos: Total Viewers (+9%), Adults 25-54 (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+2%).
For the 5th week in a row, “Nightline” held the week’s top 12:35 a.m. telecast in Total Viewers (2.061 million – 2/26/15), outdelivering every telecast of the week of CBS’ “The Late Late Show” and NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
ABC News’ “Nightline” won the 2015 February Sweep versus its CBS and NBC competition in Total Viewers (1.760 million) to claim its first-ever February sweep victory in its new time slot. In fact, “Nightline” won its 2nd consecutive sweep and its 3rd in the last 4. “Nightline” beat NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (+449,000 – 1.311 million) and CBS’ “The Late Late Show” (+144,000 – 1.616 million) during the month.
In addition, “Nightline” beat CBS’ “The Late Late Show” during the 2015 February sweep in Adults 25-54 (+209,000) and Adults 18-49 (+143,000).
“Nightline” improved on its February 2014 Sweep performance (1.593 million, 684,000, and 499,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+10%), Adults 25-54 (+5%) and Adults 18-49 (+7%) to post its strongest February performance yet in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Further, “Nightline” drew ABC’s largest overall February sweep audience in the 12:35 a.m. time slot in 8 years – since February 2007.
In addition, “Nightline” stood as the only 12:35 a.m. program to grow from the year-ago sweep compared to NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (-54%/-56%/-61%, respectively) and CBS’ “The Late Late Show” (-12%/-25%/-28%, respectively).
Late-Night (Week of Feb 23): TOTAL VIEWERS A18-49(000)
ABC 2,387,000 712,000
CBS 1,982,000 503,000
NBC 2,301,000 874,000
Late-Night (Feb 2015 Sweep): TOTAL VIEWERS A18-49(000)
ABC 2,474,000 728,000
CBS 2,081,000 530,000
NBC 2,419,000 944,000
Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day National Program Ratings for week of 2/23/15, 2/16/15 & 2/24/14, Most Current Program Ratings for February 15 Sweep (1/29-2/25/15) and February 14 Sweep (1/30-2/26/14).
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