Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: Has Jimmy Kimmel's show seen a decline in ratings since 2020?
1. Summary of the results
The analyses provided suggest that Jimmy Kimmel's show has indeed seen a decline in ratings since 2020. According to [1], the show experienced an 11% drop to 1.104 million viewers in September 2025, ranking third in late-night TV [1]. This decline is further confirmed by [2], which cites a 11% decrease to 1.104 million viewers in September 2025 [2]. Additionally, [3] provides context that the show had approximately 1.1 million viewers per episode in the late-summer/early-fall 2025 window, representing a decline from previous months [3]. However, it's worth noting that [4] reports that Jimmy Kimmel Live! had 1.77 million viewers in Q2 2025, which is a decline compared to previous months, but the show performed well in the 18-49 demographic with 220,000 viewers [4].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Some sources, such as [5], [6], and [7], do not provide direct information about the decline in ratings of Jimmy Kimmel's show since 2020, but instead focus on President Trump's comments about the show being "ratings-challenged" [5] [6] [7]. These sources imply that the show's ratings may have been a factor in the decision to suspend the show, but do not provide concrete evidence. On the other hand, sources like [1], [2], and [3] provide more specific information about the decline in ratings, citing a drop in viewership to 1.104 million viewers in September 2025 [1] [2]. Furthermore, [2] and [3] offer additional context, stating that the show's ratings have been affected by the decline in traditional TV viewing and the shift to streaming services [2] [3].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement asks if Jimmy Kimmel's show has seen a decline in ratings since 2020, but does not provide any context or evidence to support this claim. Sources like [5], [6], and [7], which focus on President Trump's comments, may be biased towards a particular political viewpoint, as they emphasize the show's supposed "ratings-challenged" status without providing concrete evidence [5] [6] [7]. In contrast, sources like [1], [2], and [3] provide more objective data about the decline in ratings, which may be more reliable [1] [2] [3]. Ultimately, the beneficiaries of this framing are those who seek to criticize Jimmy Kimmel's show or ABC's decision to suspend the show, as the emphasis on declining ratings may be used to justify these actions [5] [6] [7].