NBC's JIMMY FALLON Dominates Second-Quarter Ratings

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has dominated late-night's second quarter of 2014, beating the combined ABC-CBS competition and delivering "Tonight's" top-rated second quarter in five years in adults 18-49.

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" also scored dominant results and out-rated CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" in adults 18-49 despite starting an hour later. Meyers generated the highest-rated "Late Night" second quarter in three years in adults 18-49.

Fallon scored a 1.29 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 for the quarter, according to "most current" averages from Nielsen Media Research, beating the combined 1.18 of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (0.67) and CBS's "Late Show" (0.51). Versus year-ago "Tonight" results, Fallon was up +52% in adults 18-49 (with a 1.29 vs. a 0.85) and up +11% in total viewers (3.967 million vs. 3.575 million).

The 1.29 is the top "Tonight" rating for a second quarter since a 1.57 in 2009. The 3.967 million is a four-year high, best since 4.030 million in 2010.

Meyers generated a 0.57/4 in adults 18-49 for the quarter, good enough to top Letterman's 0.51, while winning head-to-head versus CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.36) by a margin of +58%. The 0.57 rating is the highest "Late Night" second-quarter average since a 0.63 in 2011. Meyers delivered bigger audiences than "Late Late Show" in every key ratings measure during the second quarter and also beat ABC's "Nightline" in their head-to-head half-hour from 12:30-1 a.m. in all key categories.

At 1:35 a.m. ET, "Last Call with Carson Daly" earned a 0.32/3 in adults 18-49 for the second quarter of 2014, the show's strongest second-quarter result in three years, since a 0.37 in 2011.

The quarter ended with the week of June 23-27, during which Fallon encores averaged a 0.88/4, to convincingly beat both Kimmel (0.63/3) and Letterman (0.43/2), with both those shows running originals on four of the week's five nights.

At 12:35 a.m. ET last week, Meyers rebroadcasts averaged a 0.45/3, to out-deliver the 0.43/2 of mostly original telecasts of Letterman despite running an hour later. For the week, Meyers encores also dominated Ferguson originals head to head by an +80% margin in 18-49 (0.45 vs. 0.25) and generated bigger audiences than "Nightline" first-runs during their head-to-head half-hour in every key ratings measure.

WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of June 23-27. Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Second quarter averages are "most current," which are "live plus seven day" except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day.")

ADULTS 18-49

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 0.88 rating, 4 share (R)
CBS "Late Show," 0.43/2 *
ABC "Kimmel," 0.63/3 *

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.35/2

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.45/3 (R)
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.25/2

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.25/2 (R)

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 2.860 million viewers (R)
CBS "Late Show," 2.451 million viewers *
ABC "Kimmel," 2.458 million viewers *

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.448 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.271 million viewers (R)
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.267 million viewers

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.679 million viewers (R)

* Friday's "Kimmel" and "Late Show" were encores.

SECOND QUARTER 2014 ("MOST CURRENT")

ADULTS 18-49

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.29 rating, 6 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.51/2
ABC "Kimmel," 0.67/3

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.42/2

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.57/4
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.36/2

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.32/3

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 3.967 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.655 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.672 million viewers

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.697 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.582 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.395 million viewers

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.848 million viewers

SEASON TO DATE (SINCE FEB. 17, "LIVE PLUS SAME DAY")

ADULTS 18-49

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 1.28 rating, 6 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.51/2
ABC "Kimmel," 0.65/3

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.41/2

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.61/4
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.34/2

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.34/3

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 4.080 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.636 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.613 million viewers

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.613 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.698 million viewers
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.331 million viewers

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.903 million viewers

SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF JUNE 23-27

NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 0.52
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Colbert Report," 0.48

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.39

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.94
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.63

Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.27 million viewers.

TOTAL VIEWERS

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. "The Daily Show," 1.358 million
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Colbert Report," 1.191 million

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.812 million

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 2.098 million viewers
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.430 million viewers

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