Late Night TV Battles YouTube as Kimmel's Online Views Soar

The late night TV landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years, with the rise of YouTube posing a major challenge for traditional shows. According to Jimmy Kimmel, the popular host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, YouTube has been "killing the margins" for late night television.

This trend is evident in the viewership numbers Kimmel has seen. When he returned to his show in October 2025 after a suspension, his opening monologue garnered an impressive 22 million views on YouTube. In contrast, only 6.3 million people tuned in to watch the episode on TV. This stark discrepancy highlights how YouTube has become a dominant platform for late night content consumption.

Kimmel also addressed the recent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, noting that "losing so much money" is not a legitimate reason for such decisions. He believes the involvement of YouTube and its impact on ratings and advertising revenue are key factors behind the struggles faced by late night TV.

Despite these challenges, Kimmel remains optimistic about the future of late night television. He appreciates that YouTube has allowed his show's content to reach a wider international audience. However, he is not willing to make changes to his show solely based on the algorithm, preferring to maintain his unique approach and style.