ABC moves Jimmy Kimmel to compete directly with Jay Leno, David Letterman
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel is about to get a promotion — to 11:35 p.m.
Following a flurry of rumors, the network confirmed Tuesday that it will move “Jimmy Kimmel Live” earlier by one half-hour, to 11:35, starting Jan. 8.
That will put it in direct competition with NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” for a three-way ratings brawl.
“Nightline”— the storied late-night news program that has survived attempts to demote or kill it for years — will start at 12:35 a.m. and also, starting March 1, get a new prime time Friday newsmagazine.
The timing of the move may seem odd, given that Kimmel’s hosting of the Emmy Awards next month would have given ABC a natural promotional platform for the switch.
-- Scott Collins, Los Angeles Times