• by Wayne Friedman , January 11, 2013

ABC's major late-night programming moves seems to be getting traction through the first three days -- with both "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Nightline" gaining.

On Thursday night, "Kimmel," in his new 11:35 p.m. time slot (moving from 12:05 a.m.), scored the best results of the three late-night 11:35 p.m. starting entertainment shows with Nielsen: 1.24 million 18-49 viewers -- the key audience group for advertisers -- beating NBC's "Tonight with Jay Leno" (938,000) and CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (929,000).

On the first two days, "Kimmel" was ahead of "Late Show" -- but trailed "Tonight." The "Kimmel" three-day average now places the show in first place among 18-49 viewers: "Kimmel" (1.07 million), "Tonight,” (1.03 million), and “Late Show” (870,000).

While "Kimmel" led in 18-49 viewers, the show still trailed "Tonight" and "Late Show" in total viewers: "Tonight" had 3.4 million and "Late Show" with 3.29 million; and "Kimmel" at 3.17 million.

ABC's half-hour news show "Nightline," which had the 11:35 p.m., regularly was tops in virtually all categories in the time period over the NBC and CBS shows.

For its own part, in its new 12:35 a.m. time period, ABC's "Nightline" beat NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson -- all key viewer metrics.

For example, on Thursday night, "Nightline" had 1.9 million viewers and 992,000 18-49 viewers; "Late Late Show" had 1.5 million viewers and 669,000 18-49 viewers, and NBC's "Late Night" had 1.4 million viewers and 651,000 18-49 viewers.

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