It should be noted that Nielsen changed its rating methodology last year, so the way numbers are measured compared to 2024 could be skewed.
According to LateNighter, citing Nielsen Live+7 late-night ratings data for 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was the only 11:35 pm show to post gains in both total viewers and the key Adults 18-49 demo. The show averaged 2,013 million viewers (up 14 percent on 2024) and 230,000 demo viewers (up 4 percent on last year).
Jimmy Kimmel Live! became headline news last September when ABC temporarily suspended Kimmel following comments he made on-air about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He returned less than a week later and saw an immediate increase in viewership.
It wasn’t such positive news for the other 11:35 pm shows. The Late Show, which is set to air its final episode in May, averaged 2,545 million viewers (higher than Kimmel but down one percent on 2024) and 229,000 demo viewers (down 19 percent on last year).
The Tonight Show, meanwhile, averaged 1,319 million viewers (down four percent on 2024) and 183,000 demo viewers (down 17 percent on the prior year).
Fox News’ Gutfeld! was the big winner at 10 pm, averaging 3,336 million viewers (up 21 percent on 2024) and 246,000 demo viewers (up two percent on the year before). The numbers are particularly notable given that Gutfeld! airs on cable while its above rivals air on broadcast networks.
In the 11 pm slot, The Daily Showaveraged 931,000 viewers (down 12 percent on 2024) and 204,000 demo viewers (up four percent on last year).
Late Night with Seth Meyers led the 12:37 am slot, though its numbers were down on 2024. The show averaged 945,000 viewers (down five percent on 2024) and 123,000 demo viewers (down 19 percent).
Also at 12:37 am, ABC’s Nightline finished the year with an average of 898,000 viewers (up four percent) and 108,000 demo viewers (down 14 percent), while CBS’s After Midnightaveraged 660,000 viewers (down eight percent) and 90,000 demo viewers (down 42 percent).
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