ABC Moves Up Jimmy Kimmel Live

Jimmy Kimmel Live LogoABC’s switching up their late night lineup, moving Jimmy Kimmel Live up to the 11:35pm timeslot in order to capitalize “on ratings momentum, advertising demand and increased revenue potential for entertainment programming.” The move will take place on January 8, 2013 and will place Jimmy Kimmel in direct competition with The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman.
 
Nightline will be moving to the 12:35am spot and will expand to primetime on Friday nights at 9pm (beginning March 1st).
 
Announcing the changes, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, stated: “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.”
 
Sweeney added, “This shift also allows us to bookend our programming day with compelling news content. And the addition of a new primetime hour of Nightline on Friday nights will ensure that the program has even more opportunities to continue its incredible, award-winning reporting.”
 
Source: ABC