Conan O’Brian Crushes All Cable and Broadcast Late-Night Talk Show Ratings

Conan O’Brien’s hit series on TBS is the youngest talk show in late-night television, with top ratings in two key demos: adults 18-49 and 18-34. CONAN is averaging 1,443,000 adults 18-49 and 930,000 adults 18-34, while the show’s median age is just 33.

These season-to-date figures run from Nov. 8 through Dec. 30, 2010, and add in time-shifted viewing data, providing the broadest picture yet of the current late-night landscape. Time-shifted viewing accounted for a sizable portion of the CONAN audience, including 361,000 growth in 18-49 and 236,000 growth in 18-34 when comparing Live to Live + 7 viewing. With these time-shifted numbers included, CONAN ranks first among all late-night talk shows.

CONAN receives a far bigger lift from time-shifted viewing than broadcast shows, which is a reflection of the young fan base that O’Brien attracts. Most late-night talk shows on broadcast television have median ages in the mid 50s, compared to 33 for CONAN.

“CONAN is just getting started on TBS, but the show has already proven to be a huge success in attracting a young, loyal audience,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “CONAN is #1 with key demos, and we are thrilled that the show is even younger than expected.”

Season-to-Date Ratings Highlights for Late-Night Talk Shows*:

Adults 18-49  
CONAN 1,443,000  
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1,345,000  
Late Show with David Letterman 1,151,000  
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 1,064,000  
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 835,000  
The Colbert Report 822,000  
Chelsea Lately 784,000  
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 724,000  
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 707,000  
Lopez Tonight 557,000  
 
Adults 18-34  
CONAN 930,000  
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 574,000  
The Colbert Report 490,000  
Chelsea Lately 479,000  
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 470,000  
Late Show with David Letterman 374,000  
Lopez Tonight 331,000  
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 329,000  
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 266,000  
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 246,000  
 
Median Age  
CONAN 33  
Lopez Tonight 33  
Chelsea Lately 35  
The Colbert Report 39  
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 42  
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 49  
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 52  
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 53  
Late Show with David Letterman 56  
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 56  
   

* Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data. Final Live+7 data (11/08/10-12/26/10) blended with Live+Same Day (12/27/10-12/30/10). Based on premiere episodes, Monday-Thursday telecasts only. Time-shifted data based on difference between Live+7 vs Live (11/08/10-12/23/10).

CONAN originates from Stage 15 at Warner Bros. Studios and is produced by Conaco LLC. Jeff Ross is the executive producer.

About TBS

TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television’s top-rated comedy network and is available in 101 million households. It serves as home to such original comedy series as Glory Daze, Are We There Yet? and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and Meet the Browns; the late-night series CONAN, starring Conan O’Brien, and Lopez Tonight, starring George Lopez; hot contemporary comedies like Family Guy and The Office; special events, including star-studded comedy festivals in Chicago; blockbuster movies; hosted movie showcases; and championship sports.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

SOURCE TBS

NOTE TO EDITOR: Visit TBS’s press site at news.turner.com. Follow TBS on Twitter @tbsveryfunnyFor more information on CONAN, visit www.teamcoco.com.
CONTACT: Karen Cassell, Turner Entertainment Networks