'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Hits New High on Night Three

ABC host tops key demo, still trails Leno and Letterman in total viewers

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/11/2013 2:19:35 PM

In its third night, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live drew its largest audience yet in its new 11:35 p.m. time slot in both total viewers and adults 18-49, according to Nielsen fast nationals.

JKL averaged 3.167 million total viewers on Thursday, up 11% over its Wednesday episode, and 1.241 million adults 18-49, a gain of 15% in the key demo. It was Kimmel's second most-watched telecast ever.

In the 18-49 demo, JKL beat both NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno by 32% and CBS' Late Show with David Letterman by 34%, drawing 1.241 million younger viewers. In total viewers, however, Kimmel trailed both Leno (3.4 million viewers) and Letterman (3.289 million).