ABC bumps ‘Nightline’ to 12:35 a.m., moves ‘Kimmel’ to 11:35 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel starting in January, 2013, will go head to head with Jay Leno and David Letterman at 11:35 p.m. weeknights. CREDIT: AP
Loading ...In a move that will generate plenty of debate, ABC has decided to bump its popular three-decade old “Nightline” to 12:35 a.m., giving “Jimmy Kimmel Live” the coveted 11:35 p.m. slot starting January 8, 2013.
“Kimmel,” which debuted in 2003 (and wasn’t even on in Atlanta at first), used to start at 12:05 a.m., before being moved to midnight last year, cutting “Nightline” by five minutes.
This places all three major networks head to head for the first time in the talk-show category at 11:35 p.m. Jimmy Kimmel, 44, is significantly younger than his competitors on NBC (Jay Leno, 62) and CBS (David Letterman, 65). He will now alsoi compete with Stephen Colbert over on Comedy Central and parts of Conan O’Brien on TBS and Chelsea Handler on E!.
ABC cited in a press release “ratings momentum, advertising demand and increased revenue potential for entertainment programming in the 11:35 p.m. time slot” for the shift. Ratings for “Kimmel” are up 14 percent in July year over year.
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. There is the potential for far greater upside over the long term with this shift, given increased advertiser demand for competitive entertainment programming in the time slot.”
As a way to soften the blow to the ABC News division, the network has promised “Nightline” a 9 p.m. Friday slot starting in March.
“Nightline” has been a legendary program that started as extended coverage of the Iranian hostage situation. It was hosted by Ted Koppel from March 1980 until 2005. The program shifted from single-topic episodes under Koppel to its multi-subject approach today. Ratings would frequently beat both Leno and Letterman, buffeting it from pressures for many years to be moved to 12:35 a.m. in favor of the rising Kimmel. But obviously, it could hold back those pressures no more.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “Nightline” generated about $40 million in revenue last year (over 25 minutes) while “Kimmel” brought in about $100 million. As ABC noted, it seems more upside in “Kimmel.”
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
29 comments Add your comment
Allison Wonderland
August 21st, 2012
2:30 pm
OMFG!!! FIRST???? Yay Jimmy!!!
Kat
August 21st, 2012
3:00 pm
Can we please refrain from the “First” posts? It’s over really.
Ann
August 21st, 2012
3:01 pm
He will be my first choice to watch in this time slot. When I do watch late night talk, I got back and forth between Leno and Letterman, depending on the guests.
Road Scholar
August 21st, 2012
3:11 pm
Can’t stand Leno. Letterman has lost his pizzazz. Colbert’s satire is excellent, but sometimes I want “mindless” entertainment. Maybe Kimmel can give them a run?
Nevernude
August 21st, 2012
3:12 pm
First of all I am impressed people can stay up that late. If I make it through WWL, I will definetly switch it over to Jimmy.
Nevernude
August 21st, 2012
3:13 pm
Opps “WWHL”
Allison Wonderland
August 21st, 2012
3:49 pm
@Kat You’re over…Really
NA
August 21st, 2012
4:18 pm
David Letterman is boring and mostly politically incorrect. His sidekick Paul Schaffer looks like the 6 flags guy—— old, could be dead, not funny and very irriatating. Jay Leno—– can have good days and is funny, polite to his guests, good on conversation but some days is off. Conan, just weird, not funny, bad hair, glad he was taken off NBC. Jimmy Kimmel– great move moving his time slot up……… may be able to see him more often—- funny, Guermo is funny and they make a good team
Charmane Star
August 21st, 2012
4:30 pm
FIRST!!!
Gary
August 21st, 2012
5:04 pm
Sorry, but someone will have to explain to me the logic to me of having three of the exact same type of show opposite each other. All you are doing is dividing the talk show pie 3 ways instead of 2 now. Check the ratings, most of us watch something else besides talk shows at that hour. Network TV programmers are morons.
Mikey
August 21st, 2012
5:55 pm
KAT is a bunghole
Highlander
August 21st, 2012
6:07 pm
Used to like Letterman but more and more lately he doesn’t look like he’s enjoying himself anymore. Looks forced and seems cranky most of the time. Leno is just Leno. He’ll continue to appeal to an older demographic. Conan is a non-entity. His best days were over long ago.
Leno and Letterman should retire (they both have enough money to last quite awhile) and O’Brien should be canned.
Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon are the best on late night TV now. Fresh, funny and obviously enjoying themselves.
oydave
August 21st, 2012
6:07 pm
Damn. The natural order of the universe is that you watch The Daily Show, then Colbert, then Jimmy Kimmel. Oh well. Yay internet!
Atlantarama
August 21st, 2012
7:05 pm
Do people in other cities post “first” in their comments section? That’s got to be the dumbest post.
Atlantarama
August 21st, 2012
7:06 pm
By the way, great move by ABC.
Biff Pocoroba
August 21st, 2012
9:01 pm
WSB will probably show Married With Children reruns at 11:30 instead of bumping Kimmel up
Troy
August 21st, 2012
9:17 pm
I’m already DVR’ing Nightline and Kimmel…I hope that this change doesn’t lead to Nightline dying altogether.
I’m a huge fan of Kimmel, but I hope that Nightline will survive the shift.
Congrats Jimmy! He’s the closest thing to Johnny Carson that we’ve had since…Arsenio, lol.
Vic Correll
August 21st, 2012
9:24 pm
Not sure about that Biff. I’m guessing they’ll put on one of those unwatchable Tyler Perry shows. I remember back in the day the CBS affiliate delayed Letterman until 12:05 and ran Cheers at 11:30. Got to be politically correct these days.
Fred ™
August 21st, 2012
10:32 pm
NINETEENTH!!!!!!!!!! YAY. Now I’m cool too………
Willydoit?
August 21st, 2012
10:39 pm
KAT…Don’t be a hater of FIRST!!!
David
August 21st, 2012
10:56 pm
Nightline died when Koppel left. The old show was a single topic where they had time to truly explore an issue and do true reporting. Koppel’s interviews were always excellent and newsmaking as well.
The “newer” Nightline is dumbed down, much like 20/20, Primetime, etc. for those that don’t have the attention span to really learn about a topic. The closest thing on TV now to the original Nightline these days: Dan Rather Reports on AXS-TV and Frontline on PBS.
skeeter
August 21st, 2012
11:09 pm
To be honest, I started watching Kimmel because of Nightline. It took a while for him to “grow” on me but I will occasionally check out Leno and Letterman.
Unfortunately, the climate we live in doesn’t have a place for “soft” and nonconfrontational news.
Ted Kopal was too serious for the masses, so they tried a lighter version and now it’s too tame. Stick a fork into Nightline.
Eric
August 21st, 2012
11:24 pm
ABC moving Jimmy Kimmel to 11:35PM, and Nightline to 12:35AM is being applauded by some… and not really being applauded by others. It’s unclear if ABC is considering ending the late-night news program. Nightline being a news program that Ted Koppel helped build.
I’m very much aware that David Letterman’s CBS contract expires in 2014 (2 years away)… and I’m not sure when Jay Leno’s NBC contract is set to expire. I feel that Letterman and Leno have just about over-stayed their welcomes. I believe there is speculation of Craig Ferguson, 50, possibly being the future of CBS’ Late Show… and Jimmy Fallon, 37, possibly being the future of NBC’s Tonight Show.
As for production… We don’t know if a Ferguson-hosted Late Show would be housed at Hollywood’s CBS Television City or CBS Studio Center, or relocate to NYC. We don’t know if a Fallon-hosted Tonight Show would be housed at NYC’s 30 Rock, or relocate to Hollywood.
honky tonk man
August 22nd, 2012
1:44 am
First time people who post please grow up your not a baby,a first grader are you,huh.
Ok heres the deal Both Jimmys shows suck big time back side juice. Come on people have you seen there stand up monologue ,Its dry humor that sNot even funny yall.Kimmels show is terrible after watching it for the first 6 minutes. Leno is still Solid and is laid back grest gust line up.Jimmy Fallon should never be allowed to act ,much less host a Talk show Google his movie resume.He is not funny,and watching his show for hour ,burns my eyes and i have to apply visine after half hour of Fallon entertainment. The only funny thing on Fallon was the drummers nappy hair,reminded me of Don King.
Colbert is funny ,and is a stand by replacement for one of the Jimmys.
cabasse
August 22nd, 2012
1:58 am
whenever i need to be reminded of the level of intelligence of your average atlantan, i check ajc articles for comments. LCD
Billy
August 22nd, 2012
7:07 am
In the era of internet and 24 hour cable news, this holdover from the 79-80 Iran hostage crisis has been on borrowed time for years. Former anchor Howdy Doody, (Ted Koppel), wasn’t that interesting a interviewer, and the second stringers who took his place even less so. Good Riddance to yet another MSM showcase that meant more to the ultra leftists who produced it than to any fair minded, normal person who would have watched it. Good luck, Kimmel…
HARLOW
August 22nd, 2012
9:41 am
i guess these tv late night pyoducers have written off all other demographics becuse all of above names host are sevring the sane group of late night viewers. reach out .
Alice Bell
August 22nd, 2012
1:42 pm
FIRST!
honky tonk man
August 25th, 2012
5:11 am
Alice bell please remind us to pick you up from kindergarten sweetie,GROW UP.