Fact check: How does Jimmy Kimmel's show rank in late-night TV ratings?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided present a mixed picture of Jimmy Kimmel's show rankings in late-night TV ratings. According to ^[1], Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged 1.77 million viewers, behind The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which averaged 2.42 million viewers, but performed well in the 18-49 demographic, with 220,000 viewers, edging out Colbert's 219,000 viewers ^[1]. Similarly, ^[1] reports that Jimmy Kimmel's show ranked third in late-night TV ratings, with 1.77 million viewers, behind The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, but surged ahead in the 18-49 demographic with 220,000 viewers ^[1]. However, ^[2] notes that Kimmel's show has seen a significant decline in ratings over the past decade, with a 37% drop in total viewers and a 72% drop in the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54, and is trailing behind Fox News Channel's 'Gutfeld!' in terms of ratings ^[2]. Additionally, ^[2] reports that Jimmy Kimmel's show has seen a decline in ratings over the past decade, with a 37% drop in total viewers and a 72% drop in the key demographic of adults aged 25-54, with an average viewership of 1.6 million in 2025, down from 2.4 million in 2015 ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key context is missing from the original statement, including the fact that Jimmy Kimmel's show has performed well in the 18-49 demographic, as noted by ^[1] and ^{[1] [1]}. Additionally, the analyses highlight the challenges faced by late-night TV hosts, including pressure from Trump and his allies, declining ratings, and decreasing ad revenue, as discussed in ^{[3] [3]}. Alternative viewpoints are also presented, such as the idea that big media companies like Disney, which owns ABC, have significant business interests that may influence their decisions, as noted by ^{[4] [4]}. Furthermore, ^[2] reports that President Trump commented that Jimmy Kimmel's show was 'ratings challenged' and that the decision to pull it was 'long overdue', providing an alternative perspective on the situation ^[2]. The analyses also note that late-night shows still maintain cultural appeal and serve as branding vehicles for networks and advertisers, as discussed in ^{[3] [3]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

There is potential misinformation or bias in the original statement, as some analyses suggest that Jimmy Kimmel's show is not performing as poorly as initially stated. For example, ^[1] and ^[1] report that Kimmel's show performed well in the 18-49 demographic, which may indicate that the show still has a strong appeal to certain audiences ^[1]. Additionally, ^[5] notes that Kimmel's show had shown strength in the key 18-49 demographic earlier in 2025, which may suggest that the show's ratings are not as consistently low as some analyses suggest ^[5]. The fact that some analyses, such as ^[2] and ^[2], are from Fox News, a conservative news outlet, may also indicate a potential bias in the reporting of Jimmy Kimmel's show ratings ^[2]. Furthermore, ^[2] reports that President Trump commented on Jimmy Kimmel's show, which may indicate a political motivation behind the criticism of the show's ratings ^[2]. Overall, it is crucial to consider multiple sources and viewpoints when evaluating the performance of Jimmy Kimmel's show, as noted by the various analyses ^{[2] [1] [4] [5] [3]}.