or


[08/21/12 - 10:12 AM]
ABC Makes Strategic Shift in Late-Night Strategy - "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Moves to 11:35 p.m. on January 8
Plus: "Nightline" shifts to 12:35 a.m. on January 9 and adds a primetime hour every Friday night at 9:00 p.m., beginning March 1.

[via press release from ABC]

ABC MAKES STRATEGIC SHIFT IN LATE-NIGHT STRATEGY

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Moves to 11:35 p.m. on January 8 to Capitalize on Ratings Momentum, Higher Ad Demand and Greater Revenue Upside

Audiences Can Begin and End Their Day with ABC News as "Nightline" Shifts to 12:35 a.m. on January 9 and Adds a Primetime Hour Every Friday Night at 9:00 p.m., Beginning March 1

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 . . . Capitalizing on ratings momentum, advertising demand and increased revenue potential for entertainment programming in the 11:35 p.m. time slot, ABC today announced a strategic shift in its late-night strategy to better position the network for increased ratings and financial performance over the long term. On Tuesday, January 8, "Jimmy Kimmel Live," the only late-night broadcast talk show to increase in Total Viewers this past season, will move to 11:35 p.m., putting the show in head-to-head competition with "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "Late Show with David Letterman." Proven late-night performer "Nightline" will shift to 12:35 a.m., allowing viewers to begin and end their broadcast day with news. The moves are timed to take advantage of the built-in promotional platforms provided by ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" and ESPN's Bowl Championship Series, which culminates with the National Championship Game on Monday, January 7. In addition, "Nightline" will expand its programming commitments with a move into primetime, Friday nights at 9:00 p.m. beginning March 1. Given its success and growth, the ABC News series "What Would You Do?" will also find a new home on the schedule.

In making the announcement, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, said: "Given the passionate fan base 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' has built over the past decade and the show's ratings and creative momentum this season, the time is right to make this move. There is the potential for far greater upside over the long term with this shift, given increased advertiser demand for competitive entertainment programming in the time slot." She continued: "This shift also allows us to bookend our programming day with compelling news content. And the addition of a new primetime hour of 'Nightline' on Friday nights will ensure that the program has even more opportunities to continue its incredible, award-winning reporting."

For the complete 2011-12 Broadcast TV Season, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" grew its overall audience over the prior season by 3% in Total Viewers to generate its most-watched season in 5 years. In addition, "JKL" was the only late-night broadcast talk show to grow year over year in Total Viewers.

And the show's ratings momentum has continued. During the recent July sweep, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" surged year to year by 15% in Total Viewers to deliver its most-watched July sweep ever. Notably, "JKL" grew its overall audience year over year in all 4 sweeps of the 2011-12 Season. The program was also up over the year-ago sweep by 5% in Adults 18-49 to score its best July in 4 years - since 2008. In addition, "JKL" stood as the only broadcast talk show in late-night to achieve yearly growth in either Total Viewers or Adults 18-49. And on Sunday, September 23, Jimmy Kimmel will take another turn in the spotlight when he hosts the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

The shift for "Nightline" in late-night and the addition of a new "Nightline" broadcast hour in primetime, timed to utilize the Academy Awards as a promotional platform, continues the momentum of ABC News, which has enjoyed a banner year of success and growth. From a resurgent "Good Morning America," to the groundbreaking, innovative digital deal with Yahoo that immediately catapulted ABC News to the top of digital news delivery, to the recently completed joint venture with Univision for a 24-hour culturally relevant lifestyle and news channel for U.S. Hispanics -- the fastest growing demographic in the nation -- ABC News has gone from strength to strength and success to success.

In commenting on the announcement, Ben Sherwood, president, ABC News, said: "'Nightline' has proven its ability to grow over three decades on the air, with the show currently enjoying some of its highest ratings and best editorial work ever. The 'Nightline' team will now bring its excellent journalism to new time periods, and we especially welcome the chance to produce an hour every Friday in primetime, where new audiences will be introduced to the program's signature storytelling, interviewing and investigations. I'm confident 'Nightline' and its dynamic anchors, correspondents and staff will enjoy many successes for years to come."

Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment Group, added: "The time is right for Kimmel to make this move... he's ready, and so is his audience. For the past 10 years we've built the foundation for this shift, and we'll be celebrating the New Year as only Jimmy Kimmel can... with that unique brand of humor and universal wit that has endeared him to fans of all ages."

The Disney/ABC Television Group is composed of The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE: DIS) global entertainment and news television properties, owned television stations, and radio and publishing businesses. This includes ABC Entertainment Group, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations Group, Disney Channels Worldwide, Radio Disney, ABC Family and SOAPnet, as well as Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Disney Media Distribution. Hyperion Publishing and the Company's equity interest in A&E Networks round out the Group's portfolio of media businesses.





  [august 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· NIGHTLINE PRIME (ABC)
· WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (ABC)





[06/27/25 - 02:29 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Gears Up for Summer Rising Week to Week in All Key Measures
Wednesday, June 11, was the most-viewed day of the week among Total Viewers (2.164 million).

[06/27/25 - 12:18 PM]
ABC News Studios Announces Three Chilling New True-Crime Docuseries to Premiere in July, Streaming Exclusively on Hulu
On tap are "Her Last Broadcast: The Abduction of Jodi Huisentruit" (Tuesday, July 15); "Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari" (Monday, July 21); and "Mr. & Mrs. Murder" (Wednesday, July 30).

[06/27/25 - 10:40 AM]
Amazon MGM Studios Casts Levi Miller in the Role of Haakon in the New Original Series "Bloodaxe"
"Bloodaxe" is an epic historical drama that chronicles the rise of one of history's most famous Viking warriors, Erik Bloodaxe, and his formidable wife, Gunnhild, Mother of Kings.

[06/27/25 - 10:31 AM]
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tops Late-Night in Adults 18-49 for Third Week in a Row
Winning three of five nights in Kimmel's final week before summer guest hosts, Thursday, June 19, was the show's strongest night among Adults 18-49 (0.35 rating).

[06/27/25 - 10:07 AM]
Oxygen's "Buried in the Backyard" Returns for Season Six on Saturday, July 12 at 8 P.M. ET/PT with Special Two-Hour Premiere
The series unearths the tragic stories of ordinary people fallen prey to unthinkable crimes - dark deeds left hidden and concealed by the perpetrator, hoping to never to be discovered.

[06/27/25 - 10:02 AM]
ESPN Major League Baseball Schedule Update: New York Mets Visit the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, July 9
The Mets-Orioles matchup is in addition to the network's weekly Sunday offerings.

[06/27/25 - 10:00 AM]
FOX to Debut Powerful Three-Week Biblical Event Series "The Faithful" Sunday, March 22
The series, which begins production this summer in Rome and Matera, Italy, will air throughout the Easter and Passover season on FOX and the next day on Hulu.

[06/27/25 - 09:33 AM]
Video: "Robot Chicken: Self-Discovery Special" - Official Trailer - Adult Swim
The show's 20th anniversary special premieres July 20 on Adult Swim, next day on Max.

[06/27/25 - 09:03 AM]
Paramount+ to Debut New Groundbreaking Docuseries "Hip Hop Was Born Here" Executive Produced and Co-Created by LL Cool J and Peyton Manning
Hosted by LL Cool J, the series will chart the creation, evolution and ongoing legacy of Hip Hop not just as a genre but as a culture.

[06/27/25 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "The Comeback" Returns for a Third and Final Season
Season three will begin production this summer and will debut on HBO and HBO Max in 2026.

[06/27/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" - Official Trailer - HBO
Ms. wasn't just a magazine-it was a revolution. Told through the lens of three directors and the covers that made history.

[06/27/25 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams "Drop" Beginning July 11
Directed by Christopher Landon, the action-thriller film stars Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane and Jeffery Self.

[06/27/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano headline a historic all-women's boxing mega-event from Madison Square Garden. Presented by Most Valuable Promotions.

[06/27/25 - 06:01 AM]
HBO Max Celebrates Pride Month with the Release of Gay HBO Max Song - A New Track by Trixie Mattel Featuring HBO Max's Most Iconic Quotes
As part of the Pride Month celebrations, the music video is available now on YouTube.

[06/27/25 - 05:32 AM]
Video: "The Family Man" Season 3 - Official Announcement - Prime Video
The wait is over. New season. New mission.