January Ratings Show Major Increases in Late-Night Television

NEW YORK, NY — January 2025 saw significant shifts in late-night television ratings, as shows adapted to changing viewer preferences and the return of live events. Major networks reported double-digit increases in audiences for several of their key programs, with political events and sports influencing the trends.

Leading the pack was a Fox News late-night show, which experienced a staggering 27 percent increase in total viewers and a 40 percent spike in the key 18-40 demographic. The surge was fueled by the inauguration week programming that drew an engaged audience. “This period has reinvigorated our viewer base,” said the show’s executive producer. “We’re thrilled with the growth and look forward to continuing this momentum.”

On the flip side, ABC’s late-night offering also posted gains, rising by 16 percent across both total viewers and the younger demographic. The show benefited significantly from the additional audience generated by two late-season Monday Night Football games, a factor its producers highlighted. “It’s a testament to the watching habits of our audience, and we are grateful for the support,” noted one of the show’s anchors.

Despite these gains, Jimmy Kimmel‘s show remained a solid second place in the 11:35 PM time slot, behind its CBS competitor, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Although Colbert experienced a slight decline of 2 percent in total viewers and 7 percent among younger viewers, he still commanded the largest audience share in late-night television.

In third place, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon saw a modest decrease of 2 percent overall, but made strides with an 11-percent increase among the target demographic. The competition among late-night shows remains fierce, with each host trying to adapt to the evolving viewership landscape.

At the 12:37 AM slot, CBS’s show emerged as the top performer but faced a 2-percent decrease in total viewers while increasing 15 percent in the 18-40 demographic. A draw for second place was between an ABC News program and another CBS offering, with the former excelling in total viewers and the latter outperforming in the key demo.

Production for the show After Midnight faced interruptions due to the L.A. Wildfires, which impacted its January viewership. However, both basic cable contenders started the year positively, reflecting a general trend of growth across the late-night TV landscape.

Complete ratings data for January 2025 will be released, indicating the most popular shows and their average viewership. Monthly ratings averages include only first-run episodes. Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.