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[02/21/14 - 07:12 AM]
Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight" Is Up on Thursday Night vs. Wednesday, Matching Best Rating Since Monday in Metered-Market Households
NBC spins the late-night numbers for Thursday, February 20.

[via press release from NBC]

Thursday Late-Night Metered-Market Results:

· "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has maintained high viewership levels through a week of special midnight start times following late local news and NBC's coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

· Thursday's "Tonight" averaged a 5.3 rating, 15 share in household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research, as "Tonight" continues to attract strong sampling through Fallon's premiere week. The 5.3 is up 2% versus the prior night's 5.2 and matches Tuesday's 5.3 as the show's best rating since Monday's debut. In adult 18-49 ratings in the markets with Local People Meters, "Tonight" earned a 2.4, up 9% versus the prior night's 2.2 and the show's highest result since Monday.

· While ratings drop-offs are common through late-night premiere weeks, Fallon has essentially maintained his ratings through the second, third and fourth nights of his "Tonight" debut week. The four-day track so far for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in metered-market households is : 7.1, 5.3, 5.2, 5.3.

· Thursday's 5.3 in metered-market households is up 83% versus the show's 2.9 season-to-date average (L+SD). Note that "Tonight" has been delivering one of its strongest seasons in years and was up 7% season to date in metered-market households through Feb. 9 (2.9 vs. 2.7).

· The 5.3 rating is "Tonight's" biggest Thursday rating in metered-market households, excluding the Feb. 6 finale of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," in nearly five years (since the March 19, 2009 appearance by President Barack Obama, 11.3/26).

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, the Feb. 20 "Tonight" averaged a 2.4/12, in adults 18-49, to build on the prior night's 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters by 9% (2.4 vs. 2.2). As with results in metered-market households, the LPM 18-49 ratings have been essentially even through Fallon's second, third and forth nights, with this track since Monday's premiere: 3.4, 2.3, 2.2, 2.4.

· Despite its later start time, Thursday's "Tonight" topped the combined rating of CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" (2.0/5) and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (2.0/5) by 33% (5.3 vs. a combined 4.0).

· Thursday's "Tonight Show" featured First Lady Michelle Obama, Will Ferrell and musical guest Arcade Fire, while Friday's guests are scheduled to include Justin Timberlake.

Detailed Results in Late-Night Metered Markets Thursday night:

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 5.3 rating, 15 share from midnight-1 a.m. ET; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5, and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/5.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "Tonight," 2.4/12 at midnight; "Late Show," 0.4/2, and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.1/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.

Thursday Late-Night "Fast Official" Results:

· "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" is delivering ratings growth during a week of special midnight start times following late local news and NBC's coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics, with Thursday's telecast generating the show's biggest adult 18-49 rating and overall audience since Monday's series premiere.

· Thursday's "Tonight" averaged a 2.6 rating in adults 18-49 and 7.688 million viewers overall, according to fast-official "live plus same day" ratings from Nielsen Media Research, as "Tonight" continues to attract strong sampling through Fallon's premiere week.

· While ratings drop-offs are common through late-night premiere weeks, Fallon has generated growth through the last two nights in adults 18-49. Thursday's 2.6 rating is up 8% versus the 2.4 for Wednesday night and up 13% versus the 2.3 for the night before that, making it the show's highest rating since Monday's 3.8.

· Thursday's 7.688 million viewers is up 6% versus Wednesday's 7.274 million and is "Tonight's" biggest audience since the 11.314 million for Monday's series premiere. The four-day track since Monday is: 11.314 million, 7.366 million, 7.274 million, 7.688 million. The 7.688 million for the Feb. 20 telecast is "Tonight's" top total-viewer result for a Thursday telecast, excluding the Feb. 6 finale of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," in nearly five years (since the March 19, 2009 appearance by President Barack Obama, 14.634 million).

· Thursday's telecast is up 92% versus "Tonight's" season-to-date average in total viewers (7.688 million vs. 4.011 million, L+SD through Feb. 9). Note that "Tonight" has been delivering one of its strongest seasons in years and was up 15% season to date in total viewers through Feb. 9 (4.011 million vs. 3.473 million, "live plus same day").

· Despite its later start time, the Feb. 20 "Tonight Show" outperformed the combined results in total viewers of CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" (2.689 million) and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (2.412 million) by 51% (7.688 million vs. a combined 5.101 million). In adults 18-49, "Tonight's" 2.6 rating nearly doubled the combined results of "Late Show" (0.7) and "Kimmel" (0.7).

· Thursday's "Tonight Show" featured First Lady Michelle Obama, Will Ferrell and musical guest Arcade Fire, while Friday's guests are scheduled to include Justin Timberlake.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.





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