Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed premiered in the 11:35 p.m. slot on CBS Friday night, drawing 995,000 total viewers and 116,000 adults 18-49 for its first-run opening half-hour, according to initial Nielsen Live+Same Day data.
The second half-hour repeat averaged 600,000 total viewers and 55,000 in the demo.
The new late-night show significantly trailed its competitors nationally. It was down about 85% in total viewers and 95% in the 18-49 demo compared to the prior night’s series-high finale of CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (6.7 million total, 1.1 million demo).
According to the website LateNightere, local markets tell a stronger story. Allen Media Group reported that Comics Unleashed outperformed Fallon and/or Kimmel in more than two dozen local markets.
Several factors may have influenced the numbers, including it being the show’s debut night, Kimmel airing in repeats, and Fallon starting later than usual on the East Coast due to an NBA overrun. Delayed viewing data over the coming days could add viewers for all programs.
Comics Unleashed operates on a low-cost model distinct from traditional late-night shows: Allen pays CBS for the time slot and sells the ad inventory directly.