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Fact check: How does Jimmy Kimmel's ratings compare to Stephen Colbert's show?
Executive Summary
Jimmy Kimmel’s show has trailed Stephen Colbert’s in total viewers through mid-2025, with Kimmel averaging around 1.7–1.8 million versus Colbert’s about 2.4–3.0 million in key Nielsen snapshots; however, Kimmel often performs as well or better in the 18–49 advertiser demo and has produced isolated episodes with much higher peaks. Both programs saw significant short-term spikes tied to news events, suspensions, and network decisions, so short windows can distort the broader trend [1] [2] [3].
1. What the major claims say — a blunt tally of the numbers that matter
Multiple summaries claim that in Q2 2025, Stephen Colbert averaged roughly 2.42 million viewers while Jimmy Kimmel averaged about 1.77 million, placing Colbert ahead in raw total-audience terms [1] [2]. Several weekly snapshots and special-week reporting push Colbert’s totals even higher, citing weeks in late July 2025 when Colbert averaged about 3.0–3.06 million viewers and set weekly records after CBS announced the show’s end [4] [5]. By contrast, Kimmel’s routine averages sit below Colbert’s totals, though not by an order of magnitude [6] [2].
2. The demo that advertisers care about — where Kimmel often shines
Despite trailing in total viewers, Kimmel frequently edged Colbert in the 18–49 demographic, with a cited quarter showing Kimmel at 220,000 and Colbert at 219,000 in that demo, illustrating how a lower total audience can still deliver more desirable age-targeted viewers for advertisers [2]. Industry coverage emphasizes that advertisers prize this demo, which can make Kimmel more valuable per viewer for certain advertisers despite lower overall reach. Sources also note Kimmel topping late-night in key demo weeks, suggesting the disparity is context-dependent, particularly for ad-driven revenue discussions [7].
3. Short-term spikes and special episodes — why averages can mislead
Both hosts experienced episodic surges: Kimmel’s return from suspension drew an extraordinary ~6.2–6.26 million viewers, the largest tune-in in the show’s history and roughly three to four times his Q2 average [3] [8]. Colbert’s totals also surged after CBS announced the show’s end, with his first week of new shows post-announcement averaging 3.06 million, a 27% jump [8] [5]. These spikes show that single-event viewership can dwarf averages, and headline numbers from such weeks must be contextualized against longer-term medians and quarters [8] [5].
4. The timeline matters — what changed over summer 2025
The data paint a dynamic late-summer landscape: Q2 2025 averages show Colbert ahead, but July 2025 weeks reflect heightened volatility after public announcements and programming changes, with Colbert setting weekly records and Kimmel achieving historic single-episode peaks [1] [5] [8]. Reporting from late July and August focuses on reaction-driven tuning, implying that news cycles and network moves between July and September amplified viewership for both hosts, skewing short-term comparisons compared to persistent season-long trends [4] [5].
5. Differing editorial agendas across coverage — read the framing
Sources emphasize different narratives: some frame Colbert’s higher totals as evidence of dominance in total audience [2] [4], while others highlight Kimmel’s demo strength and record-return episode to argue his continued relevance [8] [7]. Coverage of cancellation or suspension events often carries implicit agendas—networks and trade outlets highlight spikes to promote advertiser interest, while outlets skeptical of late-night influence spotlight declines in average viewership. Readers should treat both sets of claims as event-driven narratives rather than immutable market truths [3] [5].
6. What’s missing — longer trends, streaming, and platform shifts
The cited analyses rely on Nielsen linear-TV ratings and weekly/quarter snapshots; they do not fully account for streaming views, social clips, or time-shifted consumption, which increasingly shape late-night audiences and advertiser value. None of the summarized sources present a multi-year comparative trend for Colbert versus Kimmel that incorporates digital platforms, meaning the picture is incomplete for assessing long-term influence or for advertisers weighing cross-platform reach [1] [6].
7. Bottom line for readers — how to interpret “who’s bigger”
If the metric is total linear-TV viewers during the cited windows, Stephen Colbert was the larger draw through mid-2025 with averages around 2.4 million and weekly peaks near 3.0 million, while Jimmy Kimmel’s average was around 1.7–1.8 million [1] [2] [4]. If the metric is advertiser-valued 18–49 demo performance or headline single-episode spikes, Jimmy Kimmel has clear advantages, including the historic 6.2 million return episode. Readers must choose the metric that matters to them—total reach, demo, or cultural attention from event-driven spikes—to decide which host “wins.” [2] [8]