LATE-NIGHT VICTORIES FOR EVERYONE

Each of the major late-night shows on broadcast television has found something in the latest ratings to boast about. ABC’s Nightline trumpeted the news that it was No. 1 among total views, adults 18-49, and adults 25-54. However, analysts point out that Nightline‘s ratings are based on viewership during the 11:30 p.m. to midnight half-hour, whereas the other two late-night shows on CBS and NBC are based on average viewership to 12:30 a.m. and that many viewers head for bed at midnight. NBC pointed out that The Tonight Show with Jay Leno topped ABC’s combination of Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live in all demos. Not to be outdone, CBS hailed the latest Nielsen numbers showing that Late Show with David Letterman beat The Tonight Show with Jay Leno among adults 18-34 and tied it among adults 18-49. Among the cable competitors, the combination of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central averaged 1.6 million viewers, coming out ahead of Conan O’Brien on TBS with 1.1 million.