ABC's Kimmel Attracts Its Two Largest-Ever Sweep Audiences in 2013-14 to Mark Its Most-Watched Season Yet

Some early points on Jimmy Kimmel Live's numbers, ahead of the regular press release:

During the week of May 19, 2014, which included the final 3 days of the broadcast season, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live soared by double-digits week to week, growing by 13% in Total Viewers (2.762 million) and by 17% in Adults 18-49 (815,000) to deliver its best performance in 3 weeks - since the week of 4/28/14.

Kimmel was also up over the year-ago week for the 13th consecutive week in Total Viewers (+13%) and grew by 6% in Adults 18-49.

· ABC's Kimmel was the week's #2 talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49 (815,000).

For the May 2014 sweep, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live drew its 2nd-largest overall sweep audience (2.725 million), behind only its November 2013 sweep audience. In fact, Kimmel has attracted its two biggest sweep audiences ever during the 2013-2014 broadcast season (November '13 and May '14, respectively). In addition, building over the year-ago May sweep for the 5th year in a row in Total Viewers (+8%), Kimmel delivered its most-watched May ever.

· ABC's Kimmel was the #2 broadcast talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49 (812,000).

· ABC's Kimmel outperformed CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd May in a row, growing its lead over the CBS program to 16% (versus 8% during the year-ago May). In Total Viewers, Kimmel ran neck-and-neck with Letterman as the 2nd-most-watched late-night talk show, as just 150k Viewers separated the two late-night programs during the month.

During the 2013-14 broadcast season (Sep-May), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live posted its 4th consecutive season of growth in Total Viewers (+15%) to deliver its most-watched season ever (2.672 million). Kimmel also delivered its strongest season in 11 years in Adults 18-49 (892,000) - since its debut season in 2003.

· Kimmel finished the season as the #2 broadcast talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49 (892,000), marking its first-ever season win over CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman (+21%).

Fringe Ratings Report: ABC Late-Night Programming Week of May 19, 2014 and May 2014 Sweep

ABC is the No. 1 Net in Late-Night in Viewers with its Largest Audience in 3 Weeks

ABC Grows its Audience Over the Year-Ago May and Outdraws NBC's New Line-up

ABC's "Kimmel" Builds Year Over Year for the 13th Consecutive Week in Viewers

"Kimmel" Attracts its Two Largest-Ever Sweep Audiences in 2013-14 to Deliver its Most-Watched Season Yet

"Nightline" is the No. 1 Show in its Slot in Viewers in 6 of the Last 8 Weeks, Posting Across the Board Week-to-Week and Year-to-Year Increases

"Nightline" Wins its First-Ever Sweeps Period in Viewers at 12:35am, Delivering ABC's Largest May Sweep Audience in the Slot in 12 Years

ABC Late-Night (Monday - Friday)

With its late-night lineup of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 11:35 p.m. and "Nightline" at 12:35 a.m. during the week of May 19, 2014, ABC grew to 3-week highs (since the week of 4/28/14), shooting up over the prior week by double-digits in Total Viewers (+12% - 2.405 million vs. 2.147 million) and Adults 18-49 (+16% - 719,000 vs. 620,000). In fact, ABC delivered the largest week-to-week gains in late-night among the broadcast networks in Viewers and Adults 18-49 (CBS was down -14%/-15%, respectively; NBC was up +5%/+12%, respectively).

ABC grew its overall audience over the year-ago week (2.176 million and 687,000 on w/o 5/20/13) for the 5th week in a row (+11%) and was up by 5% in Adults 18-49.

For the 5th time in 6 weeks, ABC was the most-watched network in late-night (2.405 million), drawing a larger audience than NBC (2.372 million) and posting its biggest advantage so far this season over CBS (+33% - 1.811 million).

During the May 2014 sweep, ABC grew by 8% in Total Viewers over the February 2014 sweep (2.395 million vs. 2.211 million) and by 6% over the year-ago May sweep (2.261 million).

· For the 4th year in a row, ABC was the most-watched network in May (2.395 million), outdrawing NBC (2.362 million) with its new late-night line-up of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" (M-F 11:35 p.m.)

During the week of May 19, 2014, which included the final 3 days of the broadcast season, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" soared by double-digits week to week, growing by 13% in Total Viewers (2.762 million vs. 2.441 million) and by 17% in Adults 18-49 (815,000 vs. 695,000) to deliver its best performance in 3 weeks - since the week of 4/28/14.

"Kimmel" was also up over the year-ago week (2.442 million and 766,000 on w/o 5/20/13) for the 13th straight week in Total Viewers (+13%) and grew by 6% in Adults 18-49.

· ABC's "Kimmel" was the week's No. 2 talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49 (815,000).

For the May 2014 sweep, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" drew its 2nd-largest overall sweep audience (2.725 million), behind only its November 2013 sweep audience. In fact, "Kimmel" has attracted its two biggest sweep audiences ever during the 2013-2014 broadcast season (November '13 and May '14, respectively). In addition, building over the year-ago May sweep for the 5th year in a row in Total Viewers (+8%), "Kimmel" delivered its most-watched May ever.

· ABC's "Kimmel" was the No. 2 broadcast talk show in late-night during the sweep in Adults 18-49 (812,000).

· ABC's "Kimmel" outperformed CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd May in a row, growing its lead over the CBS program to 16% (versus 8% during the year-ago May). In Total Viewers, "Kimmel" ran neck-and-neck with "Letterman" as the 2nd-most-watched late-night talk show, as just 59,000 Viewers separated the two late-night programs during the month (2.725 million vs. 2.784 million).

During the 2013-14 broadcast season (Sep-May), ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" posted its 4th consecutive season of growth in Total Viewers (+15%) to deliver its most-watched season ever (2.672 million). "Kimmel" also delivered its strongest season in 11 years in Adults 18-49 (892,000) - since its debut season in 2003.

· "Kimmel" finished the season as the No. 2 broadcast talk show in late-night in Adults 18-49 (892,000), marking its first-ever season win over CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" (+21% - 738,000).

"Nightline" (M-F 12:35 a.m.)

ABC News' "Nightline" ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers (1.674 million) for the week of May 19, 2014, according to Nielsen Media Research. Taking the top spot for the 6th time in the last 8 weeks, "Nightline" beat NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" by 49,000 Total Viewers and CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" by 469,000 Total Viewers. In fact, "Nightline" outdelivered the CBS program by its largest Total Viewer margin in more than 1 year (since w/o 5/6/13) and 2nd-largest margin overall.

"Nightline" also outperformed CBS' "The Late Late Show" in both Adults 25-54 (+164,000) and Adults 18-49 (+139,000) for the 6th straight week.

· "Nightline" posted week-to-week gains (1.553 million, 658,000, and 468,000, respectively on w/o 5/12/14) in Total Viewers (+8%), Adults 25-54 (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+12%).

· "Nightline" claimed the No. 1 telecast of the week in Total Viewers with its Tuesday airing (1.836 million on 5/20/14), outdrawing all telecasts of the week of both NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." In fact, the ABC program has aired the week's top telecast in 5 of the last 6 weeks.

For the 2014 May Sweep, "Nightline" ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers (1.736 million), winning its first sweeps period ever in its new time slot, according to Nielsen Media Research. "Nightline" outdelivered NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (+106,000 - 1.630 million) to beat its NBC competition for the first time ever, while leading CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (+302,000 - 1.434 million) by its largest-ever sweeps margin.

In addition, "Nightline" led CBS' "The Late Late Show" for the 4th time in last 5 sweeps in Adults 25-54 (+110,000 - 711,000 vs. 605,000) and the 3rd time in the last 5 in Adults 18-49 (+62,000 - 530,000 vs. 468,000), with its biggest-ever sweeps margin of victories in both key adult demos.

· "Nightline" improved on the previous sweep (1.593 million, 684,000 and 499,000, respectively, for February 2014) across all key target demos: Total Viewers (+9%), Adults 25-54 (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+6%).

· "Nightline" improved on its May 2013 Sweep performance in Total Viewer (+3%) to deliver the Net's largest May sweep audience in the time slot in 12 years - since May 2002.

Late-Night (Week of May 19): TOTAL VIEWERS A18-49(000)

ABC 2,405,000 719,000

CBS 1,811,000 490,000

NBC 2,372,000 1,052,000

Late-Night (May 2014 Sweep): TOTAL VIEWERS A18-49(000)

ABC 2,395,000 718,000

CBS 2,096,000 574,000

NBC 2,362,000 1,021,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day National Program Ratings for weeks of 5/19/14, 5/12/14 & 5/20/13, or as dated. Most Current Program Ratings for May 2014 Sweep (4/24-5/21/14), February 2014 Sweep (1/30-2/26/14) & May 2013 Sweep (4/25-5/22/13).