ABC's "Kimmel" Grows for the 5th Straight Year to Its Most-Watched Season Yet and Hits a 10-Year High in Adults 18-49

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

For the complete 2013-14 TV season, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live grew for the 5th consecutive year to deliver its most-watched season ever (2.586 million), surpassing the prior year's previous high by 7%. Kimmel was also up in Adults 18-49, for the 2nd straight year, to deliver a 10-year high - since the 2003-04 TV season.

· ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live beat CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman for the 2nd year in a row in Adults 18-49, growing its lead over the CBS program to 26% (851,000 vs. 676,000) versus 3% the prior year.

During the 3rd quarter of 2014, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live scored its most-watched-ever Q3 (2.340 million) and strongest in Adults 18-49 in 8 years (727,000) - since 2006. In fact, Kimmel attracted its largest-ever Q2 and Q3 audiences back to back during the 2013-14 TV season. Jimmy Kimmel Live built on the year-ago 3rd quarter for the 5th year in a row in Total Viewers (+10%) and for the 4th time in 5 years in Adults 18-49 (+2%).

· ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live finished the quarter as the #2 broadcast talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49, topping CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman by 31% (727,000 vs. 553,000) up from a 3% lead during the year-ago Q3. In fact, Kimmel outperformed Letterman in all 12 weeks of the quarter and for the 7th consecutive quarter in the key young adult demo.

· Kimmel edged out CBS' Letterman in Total Viewers to rank as the quarter's 2nd-most-watched talk show in late-night on broadcast or cable.

During the final week of the 2013-14 season (week of 9/15/14), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live grew over the prior week by 11% in Total Viewers, attracting its biggest audience in 11 weeks (since w/o 6/30/14), and by 9% in Adults 18-49 to score an 8-week high (since w/o 7/21/14). Kimmel was up over the year-ago week for the 3rd straight week in Total Viewers (+10%).

Fringe Ratings Report: ABC Late-Night Programming 2013-14 TV Season / 3rd Quarter 2014 / Week of September 15, 2014

ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Grows for the 5th Straight Year to its Most-Watched TV Season Yet and Hits a 10-Year High in Adults 18-49

"Kimmel" Delivers its Biggest-Ever 3rd Quarter Audience and Strongest in 8 Years in Adults 18-49

"Kimmel" Closes the 2013-14 TV Season with its Largest Audience in 11 Weeks and an 8-Week High in Adults 18-49

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" (M-F 11:35 p.m.)

For the complete 2013-14 TV season, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" grew for the 5th consecutive year to deliver its most-watched season ever (2.586 million), surpassing the prior year's previous high by 7% (vs. 2.425 million). "Kimmel" was also up in Adults 18-49 (851,000 vs. 847,000), for the 2nd straight year, to deliver a 10-year high - since the 2003-04 TV season.

· ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" beat CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" for the 2nd year in a row in Adults 18-49, growing its lead over the CBS program to 26% (851,000 vs. 676,000) versus 3% the prior year.

During the 3rd quarter of 2014, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" scored its most-watched-ever Q3 (2.340 million) and strongest in Adults 18-49 in 8 years (727,000) - since 2006. In fact, "Kimmel" attracted its largest-ever Q2 and Q3 audiences back to back during the 2013-14 TV season. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" built on the year-ago 3rd quarter (2.124 million and 714,000) for the 5th year in a row in Total Viewers (+10%) and for the 4th time in 5 years in Adults 18-49 (+2%).

· ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" finished the quarter as the No. 2 broadcast talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49, topping CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" by 31% (727,000 vs. 553,000) up from a 3% lead during the year-ago Q3. In fact, in the key young adult demo, "Kimmel" outperformed "Letterman" in all 12 weeks of the quarter and in each of the 7 quarters the two programs have aired head-to-head (since Q1 2013).

· "Kimmel" edged out CBS' Letterman in Total Viewers (2.340 million vs. 2.330 million) to rank as the quarter's 2nd-most-watched talk show in late-night on broadcast or cable.

During the final week of the 2013-14 season (week of 9/15/14), ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" grew over the prior week by 11% in Total Viewers (2.475 million vs. 2.226 million), attracting its biggest audience in 11 weeks (since w/o 6/30/14), and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (752,000 vs. 692,000) to score an 8-week high (since w/o 7/21/14). "Kimmel" was up over the year-ago week (2.257 million on w/o 9/16/13) for the 3rd straight week in Total Viewers (+10%).

Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Most Current Program Ratings for 2013-14 (9/23/13-9/21/14), 2012-13 (9/24/12-9/22/13), 3Q14 (6/30-9/21/14) and 3Q13 (7/1-9/22/13). National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings for weeks of 9/15/14, 9/8/14 & 9/16/13, or as dated.

Ratings Report: ABC News Programming For the 3rd Quarter 2014, September 21, 2014 and 2013-2014 Season Read More: http://abcn.ws/ZSd0fl

"Nightline" Delivers Largest Overall Audience in the Time Period During a Third Quarter in 12 Years

"Nightline" Defeats CBS" in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, Turning in Largest-Ever Quarter Margins in Both Adult Demos

"Nightline" Leads CBS Across the Board for the 2013-2014 Television Season

"Nightline" Improves Year to Date in All Measures Compared to Same Point Last Year

For the Week, "Nightline" Beats CBS in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49

"Nightline" Delivers Strongest News Demo Performance in Six Weeks

3Q 2014:

ABC News' "Nightline" averaged 1.497 million Total Viewers, 622,000 Adults 25-54 and 467,000 Adults 18-49 during the 3rd Quarter 2014, based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. "Nightline" defeated CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" in Total Viewers (+276,000), Adults 25-54 (+169,000) and Adults 18-49 (+103,000), turning in its largest-ever quarter margins over the CBS program in both adult demos.

"Nightline" saw across-the-board increases from the year-ago quarter (1.437 million, 578,000 and 435,000 for 3Q13): Total Viewers (+4%), Adults 25-54 (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+7%). In fact, "Nightline" delivered ABC largest overall audience in the time period during a 3rd quarter in 12 years - since 3Q02.

2013-14 Season:

During the 2013-14 Season, ABC News' "Nightline" averaged 1.653 million Total Viewers, 684,000 Adults 25-54 and 521,000 Adults 18-49. "Nightline" led CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" across the board: Total Viewers (+252,000), Adults 25-54 (+103,000) and Adults 18-49 (+58,000).

Year to date, "Nightline" has improved on its performance in Total Viewers (+5%), Adults 25-54 (+1%) and Adults 18-49 (+3%) compared to the same point last year when the ABC program moved into its new time period.

Week of September 15, 2014:

ABC News' "Nightline" averaged 1.510 million Total Viewers, 621,000 Adults 25-54 and 449,000 Adults 18-49 during the week of September 15, 2014, based on Live +Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. "Nightline" beat CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" during the week in Total Viewers (+246,000), Adults 25-54 (+163,000) and Adults 18-49 (+50,000).

"Nightline" posted increases over the prior week (1.411 million and 606,000, respectively on w/o 9/1/14) in Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 25-54 (+2%). "Nightline" saw its strongest news demo performance in 6 weeks - since w/o 8/4/14.

NOTE: Due NFL Football on Thursday (9/18/14), CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" was retitled to "The Late Late Show Ferguson- THU" and was coded as a special. The telecast was excluded from the weekly averages. CBS' averages are based on 4 days (Mon-Wed and Fri).

ABC News' "Nightline" is anchored by Dan Harris, Dan Abrams, and Juju Chang. Roxanna Sherwood is executive producer, and Steven Baker is Senior Broadcast Producer. The program airs weeknights from 12:35-1:00 a.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Together with "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Nightline" is part of ABC's winning late night strategy of airing news and entertainment programming.

3rd Quarter 2014:

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

ABC "Nightline" 1,497,000 622,000/0.5 467,000/0.4

CBS "Late Late Show" 1,221,000 453,000/0.4 361,000/0.3

NBC "Late Night" 1,511,000 721,000/0.6 629,000/0.5

2013-14 Season:

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

ABC "Nightline" 1,653,000 684,000/0.6 521,000/0.4

CBS "Late Late Show" 1,401,000 581,000/0.5 463,000/0.4

NBC "Late Night"* 1,674,000 828,000/0.7 737,000/0.6

Week of September 15, 2014:

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

ABC "Nightline" 1,510,000 621,000/0.5 449,000/0.4

CBS "Late Late Show" 1,264,000 458,000/0.4 399,000/0.3

NBC "Late Night" 1,687,000 762,000/0.6 674,000/0.5

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 9/15/14, 9/8/14 and 9/169/13. Most Current: 2013-2014 Season (9/23/13 - 9/21/14) and 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 9/22/13). Most Current - 3Q14: 6/30 - 9/21/14. 2Q14: 3/31 - 6/29/14. 3Q13: 7/1 - 9/22/13. Averages based on regular telecasts. "Nightline" premiered in its new time period in January 2013. NBC's year-ago week averages based on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." "Nightline" year to date - 2014 (01/01 - 09/21/14) and 2013 (01/08 - 09/22/13). *Seth Meyers premiered on 02/24/14.

Most Current data is the metric ABC has consistently used for many years to report and track quarterly, sweeps and season ratings. It measures all available viewership up to seven days after a program airs. Because there is a two-week lag for Nielsen in processing Live + 7 data, Most Current numbers include Live + 7 data and the two most recent weeks of Live + Same Day data.