June 10 (Bloomberg) -- Conan O?Brien, host of NBC?s ?Tonight Show? for less than two weeks, lost the late-night ratings lead to CBS?s David Letterman for the first time since taking over from Jay Leno.
O?Brien attracted 2.9 percent of U.S. television homes last night from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., a smaller audience than ?Late Show With David Letterman,? which drew 3.4 percent, New York-based CBS Corp. said today in an e-mail, citing preliminary data from Nielsen Co.
O?Brien?s audience has shrunk each night since he replaced Leno on June 1. Last night?s viewership was down 59 percent from O?Brien?s debut. Letterman?s has increased 13 percent in the past week. He last outdrew Leno in viewers on Oct. 16, when presidential candidate John McCain was a guest, and Oct. 17, when his show featured actress Tina Fey of ?30 Rock? and ?Saturday Night Live,? CBS said.
NBC parent General Electric Co., based in Fairfield, Connecticut, fell 31 cents to $13.26 at 2:12 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares had declined 16 percent this year before today.
CBS, owner of the most-watched television network in prime time, fell 33 cents, or 3.8 percent, to $8.35 at 2:12 p.m. Before today the shares had gained 6 percent this year.
Nielsen will release detailed viewership information tomorrow for last week?s ?Tonight Show? and ?Late Show? programs.