Letterman beats ‘Tonight,’ the first ‘Late Show’ win with all-new programs since 2005

Letterman’s ‘Late Show’ beats the ‘Tonight Show’

NEW YORK — Nielsen Media Research says the “Late Show With David Letterman” beat the “Tonight Show” last week — the first time in more than three years.

Letterman scored a weeklong average of 3.46 million viewers, edging out the 3.32 million viewers who watched NBC’s “Tonight Show,” hosted by Conan O’Brien.

It was Letterman’s first win during a full week of all-new broadcasts since December 2005, when Oprah Winfrey was his guest on the CBS late-night show. Letterman was perhaps given a ratings boost from lingering controversy over a wisecrack that targeted the family of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

O’Brien took over “Tonight” from longtime host Jay Leno earlier this month.

NBC is owned by General Electric Co. CBS is a division of CBS Corp.

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