ABC's "Kimmel" Scores its 2nd-Most-Watched Quarter in its 9-Year History

Some early points on Jimmy Kimmel Live's 4Q 2011 numbers, ahead of the regular press release:

During the 4th Quarter 2011, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live grew its overall audience over the year-ago quarter by 5% to deliver its most-watched quarter in 4 years - since 4Q 2007. In fact, this marked JKL's 2nd-most-watched quarter in its nearly 9-year history (JKL premiered in January 2003). Growing year to year in Total Viewers (+5%) for the 7th quarter in a row, JKL delivered the largest yearly gains of any talk show in late-night (broadcast or cable).

Scoring double-digit gains over the prior quarter in Total Viewers (+19%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%), ABC's JKL grew its overall audience the most of any late-night talk show.

· ABC's JKL topped CBS' Ferguson during the quarter by its largest margin ever in Total Viewers (+15%), topping the CBS late-night program in 13 of the 14 weeks of the quarter. In addition, JKL beat Ferguson in Adults 18-49 (+7%) for the 7th consecutive quarter, leading the CBS program in 11 of the quarter's 14 weeks.

Ratings report for ABC News' Nightline For 4Q11 and week of December 19

ABC's "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 During 4th Quarter 2011 Across All Target Demos

4Q11 is the 5th Straight Quarter for the ABC Latenight Program to Take the Top Spot in Overall Viewers

"Nightline" Defeated NBC's "The Tonight Show" in Adults 18-49 for the First Time During a 4th Quarter in 18 Years

"Nightline" Sees Across the Board Increases Versus the Previous Quarter Among Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49

4Q11:

ABC's "Nightline" ranked No. 1 during 4th Quarter 2011 across all target demos: Total Viewers (3.946 million), Adults 25-54 (1.549 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.201 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. 4Q11 represented the 5th straight quarter for the ABC latenight program to take the top spot in overall viewers versus NBC's "The Tonight Show" and CBS' "The Late Show," while leading for the 4th time in the last 5 quarters in the key adult news demo.

"Nightline" saw across the board increases versus the previous quarter (3Q11) among Total Viewers (+5%), Adults 25-54 (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%).

"Nightline" defeated NBC's "The Tonight Show" in Adults 18-49 (+85,000) for the first time during a 4th quarter in 18 years, while outperforming the NBC program by its largest margin during any quarter in over 16 years - since 4Q93 and 2Q95, respectively. Additionally, the ABC program saw its largest Total Viewer (+185,000) and Adults 25-54 (+102,000) advantages over a Jay Leno-hosted "The Tonight Show" during any quarter in 16 years -2Q95.

"Nightline" turned in its largest leads over CBS' "The Late Show" during a 4th quarter in 12 years in Total Viewers(+619,000) and in 11 years in Adults 25-54 (+99,000) - since 4Q99 and 4Q00, respectively.

Week of December 19, 2011

For the week of December 19, 2011, ABC's "Nightline" took second in late-night across all key target demos: Total Viewers (3.356 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.014 million) according to Nielsen Media Research.

"Nightline" topped CBS' "The Late Show" during the week in Total Viewers (+219,000) and Adults 18-49 (+59,000).

Season to date, "Nightline" ranks No. 1 in late-night among Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, ahead of both NBC's "The Tonight Show" and CBS' "The Late Show," marking the 2nd straight year that the ABC program is taking the top spot in overall viewers and in the key adult news demo.

Note: Due to the Christmas holiday, "ABC News: Nightline" was re-titled "ABC News - Nightline" on Friday (12/23/11) and is excluded from the average. NBC's "The Tonight Show" and CBS' "The Late Show" are based on 5 days.

ABC News' "Nightline" is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. John Donvan and Juju Chang are correspondents. Jeanmarie Condon is the Executive Producer. The program airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.

(4th Quarter, 2011)

TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/ Rtg A18-49(000)/ Rtg

ABC "Nightline" 3,946,000 1,549,000/ 1.3 1,201,000/ 0.9

CBS "Late Show" 3,327,000 1,450,000/ 1.2 1,128,000/ 0.9

NBC "Tonight Show" 3,761,000 1,447,000/ 1.2 1,116,000/ 0.9

(Week of December 19, 2011)

TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/ Rtg A18-49(000)/ Rtg

ABC "Nightline" 3,356,000 1,307,000/ 1.1 1,014,000/ 0.8

CBS "Late Show" 3,137,000 1,322,000/ 1.1 955,000/ 0.7

NBC "Tonight Show" 3,866,000 1,472,000/ 1.2 1,136,000/ 0.9

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 12/19/11, 12/12/11 & 12/20/10. Most Current: 4Q11: 9/19/11 - 12/25/11. 3Q11: 6/27 - 9/18/11. 4Q11: 9/20/10 - 12/26/10. 2011-2012 Season (9/19 - 12/25/11) and 2010-2011 Season (9/20 - 12/26/10).

Fringe Ratings Report: ABC Late-Night Programming 4th Quarter 2011

Posting Year-to-Year Gains for the 4th Straight Quarter, ABC is the Only Broadcaster in Late-Night to Grow its Overall Audience

ABC's "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 During 4th Quarter 2011 Across All Target Demos, Marking the Net's 5th Consecutive Quarter to Take the Top Spot in Overall Viewers

ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Sees its 2nd-Most-Watched Quarter in its 9-Year History

ABC Late-Night (Monday - Friday)

With its late-night lineup of "Nightline" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" during the 4th Quarter 2011, ABC grew over the year-ago quarter (+1% - 2.378 million vs. 2.355 million) for the 4th consecutive quarter and stood as the only broadcaster in late-night to grow its overall audience year-to-year (CBS was down -10%; NBC was down -2%). This quarter marked ABC's most-watched 4Q in late-night in 3 years - since 4Q 2008.

· During the quarter, ABC outdrew NBC in late-night in Total Viewers (+1% - 2.378 million vs. 2.354 million) and posted its first-ever victory in Adults 18-49, topping NBC by 3% (832,000 vs. 807,000). In fact, ABC beat NBC with young adults in 10 of the 14 weeks of the quarter.

"Nightline" (Monday - Friday)

ABC's "Nightline" ranked No. 1 during 4th Quarter 2011 across all target demos: Total Viewers (3.946 million), Adults 25-54 (1.549 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.201 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. 4Q11 represented the 5th straight quarter for the ABC late-night program to take the top spot in overall viewers versus NBC's "The Tonight Show" and CBS' "The Late Show," while leading for the 4th time in the last 5 quarters in the key adult news demo.

"Nightline" saw across the board increases versus the previous quarter (3Q11) among Total Viewers (+5%), Adults 25-54 (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%).

"Nightline" defeated NBC's "The Tonight Show" in Adults 18-49 (+85,000) for the first time during a 4th quarter in 18 years, while outperforming the NBC program by its largest margin during any quarter in over 16 years - since 4Q 1993 and 2Q 1995, respectively. Additionally, the ABC program saw its largest Total Viewer (+185,000) and Adults 25-54 (+102,000) advantages over a Jay Leno-hosted "The Tonight Show" during any quarter in 16 years - 2Q 1995.

"Nightline" turned in its largest leads over CBS' "The Late Show" during a 4th quarter in 12 years in Total Viewers (+619,000) and in 11 years in Adults 25-54 (+99,000) - since 4Q 1999 and 4Q 2000, respectively.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" (Monday - Friday)

During the 4th Quarter 2011, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" grew its overall audience over the year-ago quarter by 5% (1.807 million vs. 1.728 million) to deliver its most-watched quarter in 4 years - since 4Q 2007. In fact, this marked "JKL's" 2nd-most-watched quarter ever in its nearly 9-year history ("JKL" premiered in January 2003). Growing year to year in Total Viewers (+5%) for the 7th quarter in a row, "JKL" delivered the largest yearly gains of any talk show in late-night (broadcast or cable).

Scoring double-digit gains over the prior quarter in Total Viewers (+19% - 1.807 million vs. 1.524 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 698,000 vs. 595,000), ABC's "JKL" grew its overall audience the most of any late-night talk show.

· ABC's "JKL" (M-F 12:00 a.m.) topped CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (M-F 12:35 a.m.) during the quarter by its largest margin ever in Total Viewers (+15% - 1.807 million vs. 1.569 million), topping the CBS late-night program in 13 of the 14 weeks of the quarter. In addition, "JKL" beat "Ferguson" in Adults 18-49 (+7% - 698,000 vs. 654,000) for the 7th consecutive quarter, leading the CBS program in 11 of the quarter's 14 weeks.

Late-Night (4th Quarter 2011): TOTAL VIEWERS A18-49(000)

ABC 2,378,000 832,000

CBS 2,395,000 877,000

NBC 2,354,000 807,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, Live+7 (where available) & Live+SD for 4Q11 (9/19/11-12/25/11) vs. 4Q10 (9/20/10-12/26/10) and 3Q11 (6/27/11-9/18/11). Comparisons based on 000s. ABC Late-Night = "Nightline" and "JKL"; CBS Late-Night = "Letterman" and "Ferguson"; NBC Late-Night = "Tonight Show," "Fallon" and "Carson Daly."