NBC's JIMMY FALLON Dominates Kimmel, Letterman in Timeslot Competition

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has opened the 2014-15 television season with a +15% gain over "Tonight's" year-ago premiere week in adults 18-49, making it the show's highest opening-week rating in six years.

Fallon's 1.09 rating for the week of Sept. 22-26 dominated the timeslot competition, delivering a +58% margin over ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (0.69) and a +91% margin over CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" (0.57). In total viewers, Fallon's average 3.872 million persons gave him advantages of +34% over "Kimmel" (2.893 million) and +41% over "Late Show" (2.738 million).

Versus last year's premiere week, "The Tonight Show" grew by +15% in 18-49 rating (to a 1.09 from a 0.95) and up +5% in total viewers (3.872 million vs. 3.678 million). These are "Tonight's" top week-one results since 2008 (1.33 in 18-49, 4.732 million viewers overall).

"Late Night with Seth Meyers" opened its 2014-15 season with convincing wins at 12:35 a.m. ET, outdelivering CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-female demos. Meyers also prevailed versus ABC's "Nightline" in their head-to-head half-hour from 12:30-1 a.m. in every key demographic - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

Note that CBS's Thursday late-night shows were delayed last week by a high-rated NFL overrun. Friday's "Late Night" and "Last Call" were encores.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Sept. 22-26. Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data 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" 1.09 rating, 5 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.57/3 *
ABC "Kimmel," 0.69/3

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.43/3

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.49/3 *
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.41/3 *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.31/3 *

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 3.872 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.738 million viewers *
ABC "Kimmel," 2.893 million viewers

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.780 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.498 million viewers *
CBS "Late Late Show," 1.509 million viewers *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.824 million viewers *

* CBS Thursday shows were delayed by an NFL overrun. Friday's "Late Night" and "Last Call" were encores.

SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF SEPT. 22-26

NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 0.59
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Colbert Report," 0.53

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.41

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.79
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.66

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

TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. "The Daily Show," 1.376 million
Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.-midnight ET, "The Colbert Report," 1.188 million

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.839 million

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.971 million viewers
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.303 million viewers

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