Here Are Final Late Night Ratings for Q1 2025

The latest late-night television ratings for the first quarter of 2025 indicate a significant downturn in viewership. Out of the nine major shows analyzed, seven experienced a decline in their audience numbers. However, there were notable exceptions: “Gutfeld!” and “Watch What Happens Live” both saw increases in viewership, thriving even before the traditional late-night slot.

Overall Trends in Late Night Ratings

• After a strong performance in the last quarter of 2024, late-night ratings plummeted in Q1 2025.
• “Gutfeld!” achieved its highest ratings to date, increasing overall viewership by 14%, with a 9% rise in the crucial 18-49 demographic.
• “Watch What Happens Live” also performed well, with a 5% increase in total viewership and a 3% rise among younger audiences.

Ratings for the 11:35 PM Slot

• In terms of total viewership, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” maintained its leading position.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” secured the second spot in total viewers, while “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” just narrowly surpassed Kimmel in the key 18-49 demographic.
• All three of these major late-night shows saw a decrease in ratings, each down approximately 7-8%. Specifically, Fallon’s younger audience dropped by 14%, Colbert’s by 17%, and Kimmel’s by a staggering 24%.

Ratings for the 12:37 AM Slot

• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” ranked highest in both total viewer counts and key demographic ratings.
• “Nightline” and “After Midnight” shared the second position, with Nightline leading in total viewers, while After Midnight attracted a larger proportion of the younger audience.
• All three programs in this time slot faced declines in total viewership of 8-9%. Notably, Nightline’s appeal to younger viewers decreased by 28%, while After Midnight’s dropped a significant 30%.

Performance of The Daily Show

• Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” had minimal losses, experiencing only a 1% decline in total viewers and a 2% drop in its key demographic metrics.

As we analyze the Q1 2025 ratings, it’s clear that late-night television is grappling with significant challenges in viewer retention. The sharp declines across most traditional shows are indicative of shifting audience preferences. Interestingly, the success of earlier shows like “Gutfeld!” and “Watch What Happens Live” points to a potential transformation in late-night viewership trends. For audiences looking for engaging and vibrant content outside the classic late-night format, tuning into these programs may be an essential shift for their viewing habits.

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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)