‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ To Compete Directly With Jay Leno, David Letterman, In 11:35 Time Slot

Jay Leno and David Letterman will have a new competitor this January when Jimmy Kimmel Live moves to the 11:35 pm EST time slot on ABC.

Kimmel has been starting his show at 12:05 pm EST. This made him a competitor for the second half Jay Leno and David Letterman’s shows and the first half of Jimmy Fallon and Craig Ferguson’s shows. But due to Kimmel’s increase in popularity over the years, ABC has decided to bump Nightline from the 11:35 slot in order to put Kimmel in direct competition with Leno and Letterman.

According to the Washington Post, Nightline will now start at 12:35 am. The show will also be given a prime-time hour once a week starting in March.

Kimmel said:

“The most exciting thing is having a bigger audience…. You work all day on the show and you want as many people to see you as possible.”

Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, said:

“Given the passionate fan base ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ has built over the past decade, and the show’s ratings and creative momentum this season, the time is right to make this move.”

Kimmel will make the move to 11:35 on January 8.

Nightline has been a solid performer for ABC, bringing in an average of 3.9 million viewers to the 11:35 slot, but, according to Sweeney, there are more advertising opportunities with an entertainment show during that time.

Kimmel is averaging 1.8 million viewers, well behind the 3.7 million that tune in to watch Leno and the 3.2 million that watch Letterman, but that could all change on January 8.

Do you think Jimmy Kimmel Live will perform well against Leno and Letterman?