“The Late Show” Delivers Impressive Year-to-Year Growth in Viewers and All Key Demos for the Network and CBS Owned and Operated Stations

Colbert-Hosted “Late Show” Sets CBS.com Record for Full Episode Streams of a 
Premiere Episode, Topping Even Primetime Shows

           Stephen Colbert’s first week as the host of THE LATE SHOW led CBS to a late night ratings victory, as the show ranked #1 in late night viewers and tied for first in adults 18-34 during premiere week ending Sept. 11, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings.

Across a four-day average during premiere week, THE LATE SHOW grew +95% in viewers (4.45m from 2.28m) versus the same week last year, and saw a tremendous +125% year-to-year increase in adults 18-49 (0.9 from 0.4), +250% in adults 18-34 (0.7 from 0.2) and +100% in adults 25-54 (1.2 from 0.6).

On the 14 CBS Owned and Operated Stations, THE LATE SHOW was up +150% in adults 25-54 (1.5 from 0.6), +120% in adults 18-49 (1.1 from 0.5), scoring #1 in these measures during the time period in the top three markets.

Digitally, the premiere episode of THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT marked the best series debut ever for any CBS show in terms of full episode streams on CBS.com and the CBS apps – even topping all CBS primetime shows – and broke THE LATE SHOW’s previous traffic records on both platforms.

THE LATE SHOW was also the most social late night network talk show of the week, according to Nielsen Social.

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Press Contacts:  

Ed Harrison                             818-655-1584  ed.harrison@cbs.com

David Pepose                         212-975-1929  david.pepose@cbs.com

Mike Nelson (CBS Stations)     818-655-2156  mike.nelson@cbs.com

Morgan Seal (CBS Interactive) 646-424-4321  morgan.seal@cbsi.com