ABC Shifts Late-Night Strategy

BURBANK: ABC is moving Jimmy Kimmel Live to the 11:35 p.m. slot as of January 8, in an effort to "capitalize on ratings momentum, higher ad demand and greater revenue upside," according to the network.

Jimmy Kimmel Live is the only late-night broadcast talk show to have increased in total viewers this past season. With its move to 11:35 p.m., the show will go into head-to-head competition with The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman.

Nightline moves to 12:35 a.m. The show will also expand its programming commitments with a move into prime time on Friday nights at 9 p.m. starting March 1. This adds a prime-time hour every Friday evening.

Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and the president of the 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.” She continued: “This shift also allows us to bookend our programming day with compelling news content. And the addition of a new prime-time hour of Nightline on Friday nights will ensure that the program has even more opportunities to continue its incredible, award-winning reporting.”

Ben Sherwood, the president of ABC News, added: “Nightline has proven its ability to grow over three decades on the air, with the show currently enjoying some of its highest ratings and best editorial work ever. The Nightline team will now bring its excellent journalism to new time periods, and we especially welcome the chance to produce an hour every Friday in prime time, where new audiences will be introduced to the program’s signature storytelling, interviewing and investigations. I’m confident Nightline and its dynamic anchors, correspondents and staff will enjoy many successes for years to come.”

Paul Lee, the president of ABC Entertainment Group, commented: “The time is right for Kimmel to make this move… he’s ready, and so is his audience. For the past ten years we’ve built the foundation for this shift, and we’ll be celebrating the New Year as only Jimmy Kimmel can… with that unique brand of humor and universal wit that has endeared him to fans of all ages.”