For the second year in a row, ABC News’ “Nightline” topped NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” to be the most-watched late night program for the 2010-11 season.
“Nightline” also beat out the competition in the A25-54 demographic for the first time ever. The ABC News program was the only show to post a gain in that category, growing +4% for the season. CBS was down -7% and NBC was down -4%.
Of the 52 weeks in the 2010-11 season, “Nightline” was first for 32 weeks in total viewers, 29 weeks in A25-54 viewers and 27 weeks in A18-49 viewers, which gives them the most number of weeks at number one in each of the key target demos during the course of the season.
ABC’s ratings are based on a 25-minute broadcast, while CBS and NBC are based on approximately :50 minutes (prior to the final national commercial break of each program).
- 2010-2011 Season:
Show | Network | Total Viewers | A25-54 | A18-49 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nightline | ABC | 3.94M | 1.60M | 1.24M |
Tonight Show | NBC | 3.85M | 1.58M | 1.25M |
Late Show | CBS | 3.34M | 1.44M | 1.07M |