CBS up in latenight

'Letterman' narrows gap

By TOM BIERBAUM

CBS strides in primetime are translating into progress in latenight for the Eye's "Late Show With David Letterman," which is running closer to "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" this fall than it has in three years.

"Leno" remains the undisputed king of latenight, but the margin over "Letterman" has ebbed this fall by about 750,000 viewers.

Factors contributing to the movement include baseball disruptions to "Leno's" airtime in the East and primetime demo progress for CBS that gives "Letterman" better lead-ins and stronger promo support.

Four weeks into the fall season, "Letterman" is averaging 3.99 million viewers, up 17% from last year, while "Leno" is down 3% to 5.67 million. "Nightline" has slipped 13% to 4.16 million.

While "Leno's" 1.7 million-viewer lead over "Letterman" is solid, it's the NBC talker's most narrow advantage at this stage of the season since 1996. "Leno's" 0.7-ratings point edge in adults 18-49 (2.4 vs. 1.7) is its smallest since 1997.

"Letterman" is inching back into the race in part because some CBS newcomers in primetime are boosting the net in young-adults demos that are vital to latenight fare. On Monday, for example, "Family Law" is up vs. the time period last year by 40% in adults 18-34 (3.5/10 vs. 2.5/8), and Friday's "Now and Again" has doubled the slot's year-ago 18-34 figure (3.0/11 vs. 1.5/6). On Tuesdays, "Judging Amy" is up 17% in adults 18-49 (4.8/13 vs. 4.1/11).

In late-late results, NBC remains dominant with "Conan O'Brien" (1.1/8 in adults 18-49 this season, down 8%), but CBS is improving with "Craig Kilborn" (0.7/5, up a tenth of a point vs. "Tom Snyder" last year).