Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was already losing viewers before Disney-owned ABC suspended him over remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Nielsen ratings reveal steep declines over the summer and a broader year-long slump, putting him behind late-night competitors like Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld and CBS’s Stephen Colbert.
In August 2025, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” averaged just 1.1 million viewers — a 43% drop from January’s 1.95 million. That month’s household rating of 0.35 was the show’s weakest performance of the year.
During a recent taping in Los Angeles, Jimmy Kimmel could be seen addressing his studio audience — but the numbers watching at home continue to slide.
Viewership in the advertiser-prized 18–49 demographic has collapsed. In August, Kimmel averaged just 129,000 viewers in that bracket, down from 212,000 in January and less than half of his June high of 284,000.
With his ABC contract set to expire next year, the ratings slump raises doubts about whether Jimmy Kimmel Live! can rebound against rivals Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and cable upstarts.
Kimmel’s deal with ABC runs through May 2026, part of a three-year extension he signed in September 2022. Industry estimates place his salary at $15–16 million annually, with bonuses that can lift his earnings above $20 million.
On Wednesday, fans of Jimmy Kimmel staged a protest outside the El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood following ABC’s suspension of his late-night show.
Although the network has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely, ABC has not indicated any change to his contractual compensation. Both Kimmel and the network did not respond to requests for comment.
The recent decline continues a broader ratings slide. According to annual Nielsen data compiled by industry tracker LateNighter, Kimmel averaged 1.77 million total viewers in 2024 — down 2.3% from 2023. In the key 18–49 demographic, his audience fell more sharply, dropping more than 12% to 221,000 viewers per night.
By contrast, CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert retained the top spot among broadcast late-night programs, averaging 2.57 million total viewers and 281,000 in the demo, despite also seeing year-over-year losses.
Kimmel has continued to trail Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld in the late-night ratings race.
NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon averaged 1.37 million total viewers, placing behind Kimmel overall but drawing 220,000 viewers in the demo — just shy of his numbers.
Meanwhile, Fox News’ Gutfeld! remained cable’s late-night powerhouse in 2024, pulling in 2.76 million viewers. The program, however, airs at 10 p.m., an earlier slot that benefits from a larger potential audience. (Fox News and The Post share common ownership.)
Comedy Central’s Daily Show saw the sharpest gains, fueled by Jon Stewart’s Monday-night return. The show jumped 84% in total viewers and 53% in the demo.
Stephen Colbert continues to lead among over-the-air late-night hosts.
Within broadcast television, Kimmel’s standing has weakened in 2025. After a relatively stable winter and spring, his viewership has declined for three consecutive months. Nielsen data show his July average fell to 1.23 million viewers, dropping further below 1.2 million in August.
Quarterly figures reinforce the downward trend: Kimmel averaged 1.82 million viewers in Q1 2025, slipping to 1.77 million in Q2. The August low highlights a deeper summer slump, though ratings typically dip during the season as most programs run reruns.
