• by Wayne Friedman , January 9, 2013

Boosted by heavy marketing -- including some big on-air promotion during ESPN's high-rated BCS Championship game on Monday night -- ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" grew 60% in its audience for its new 11:35 p.m. time slot.

For its new time-slot premiere, "Kimmel" pulled in a Nielsen 3.09 million viewers, 59% higher than its total viewer season average of 1.94 million. In the key audience group that advertisers covet -- 18-49 viewers -- the show was 33% higher at 887,000 versus its 667,000 seasonal average.

The show moved from its longtime 12 midnight to 1 a.m. time slot. ABC's The "Kimmel" move now goes head to head with other broadcast network late-night shows: NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman."

While "Kimmel" scored well on the night, it only came in second place on the night. NBC's "Tonight" led the way with 3.27 million. "Kimmel" saw 3.09 million, topping CBS' "Late Show," which had 2.882 million.

ABC says in 25 markets with Nielsen Local People Meters, "Kimmel" was first in 13 markets among 18-49 viewers -- including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, Miami, Cleveland, Orlando, Sacramento and Baltimore.

ABC notes that the 3.09 million “Kimmel" viewers was the show's second-most-watched telecast.

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