Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended indefinitely by Disney-controlled ABC after controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a development that comes as Nielsen data show a sharp summer decline in the late-night host’s ratings. New figures indicate the show drew 1.1 million total viewers in August 2025, down 43% from January’s 1.95 million. The August household rating stood at 0.35, marking the weakest showing of the year. In the advertiser-coveted 18–49 demographic, Kimmel averaged about 129,000 viewers in August, well below January’s 212,000 and far behind the program’s June peak of 284,000.
With his ABC contract set to expire next year, the slump raises questions about whether “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” can regain momentum against CBS’ Stephen Colbert and NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, as well as against cable rivals such as Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld. The suspension comes amid a broader ratings landscape in which benchmarks have been increasingly challenged across late-night television in 2025.
ABC has not announced any change to Kimmel’s compensation during the suspension, and the network has not publicly commented on a return timetable. The New York Post reported that Kimmel’s staff have been left reeling by the decision, and industry observers noted that the host’s contract, valued at roughly $15 million to $16 million per year with potential bonuses that can push earnings above $20 million, runs through May 2026 following a September 2022 extension. Fans gathered outside the El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood to protest the suspension in the days after the announcement.
The ratings story for Kimmel predates the suspension. A difficult 2024 saw him average 1.77 million total viewers for the year, a 2.3% drop from 2023, according to Nielsen data compiled by LateNighter. In the 18–49 demo, the audience slipped more than 12%, to an average of 221,000. Among late-night programs on broadcast networks, Colbert’s Late Show continued to lead with about 2.57 million viewers and 281,000 in the demo, even as those figures declined year over year. NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon trailed Kimmel in total viewers at 1.37 million, though the two were closer in the younger demo. Cable juggernaut Fox News’ Gutfeld! posted the strongest 2024 numbers among late-night programs, averaging about 2.76 million viewers, aided by its 10 p.m. timeslot when more viewers are awake.
The shape of 2025 for Kimmel has followed a pattern of gradual erosion through the spring and summer. July averaged about 1.23 million viewers, and August slipped below 1.2 million, according to Nielsen. Quarterly data show Kimmel averaged 1.82 million in Q1 2025 and 1.77 million in Q2, confirming a steady, if less dramatic, slide that intensified as the season progressed and summer reruns dominated late-night schedules. The August downturn underscores a familiar summer dip but appears more pronounced this year given the broader ratings context for late-night television.
The broader late-night environment remains unsettled. Colbert and Fallon continue to jockey for position on broadcast television, while cable programs like Gutfeld! maintain a dominance in their slot. NBC’s and ABC’s late-night lines are under renewed scrutiny as networks weigh next steps for Kimmel amid ongoing discussions about scheduling and talent investment. As the suspension drags on, industry observers say the path to recovery will depend on a combination of audience reacquisition, digital engagement, and branding strategy as networks recalibrate in a changing media ecosystem.
