In 2025, the title of King or Queen of Late Night TV has lost much of its former glory. Despite the challenging landscape of linear television, late night hosts continue to maintain some cultural significance. While we might not see the influence of Johnny Carson or David Letterman today, being the most popular late night host still carries weight.
One name deserving recognition in the modern late night conversation is Scott Van Pelt. Since relocating his eponymous show back to Washington D.C. in 2020, SVP has provided his unique commentary on daily sports news well into the early hours on the East Coast, connecting with viewers like never before. In January 2025, the show averaged 1.5 million viewers per episode, representing a 37% increase compared to January 2024, marking the best month since December 2017, when SVP was still based at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.
Late night ‘@SportsCenter with @notthefakeSVP‘ continues to be the post-game destination for sports fans
Viewership after the #CFBPlayoffs & #NFLPlayoffs contributed to the 2nd-largest month in show history pic.twitter.com/cqZ4Ad8b3T
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 29, 2025
While the average viewership has been enhanced by strong lead-ins, with SVP’s show airing after significant events like the College Football Playoff and NFL Wild Card games, the 1.5 million viewers places him alongside traditional network late night hosts such as Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel. In 2024, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon averaged 1.37 million viewers, Jimmy Kimmel Live! reached 1.77 million, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert secured an average of 2.57 million viewers. While SVP isn’t dominating the numbers outright, he is certainly holding his own amidst substantial competition.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that SVP airs on cable rather than broadcast, presenting a significant disadvantage, especially in this era of cord-cutting. Often, his show commences much later than traditional late night shows—just recently airing after 1 a.m. ET due to an overtime game, while competitors begin at 11:35 p.m. ET. A notable distinction is that Van Pelt’s show is broadcast live, compared to the pre-taped nature of other late night shows.
This live format underscores why SVP’s show has experienced substantial success. His commentary is not only timely and authoritative, but it also features direct input from the key players in the sports realm—coaches, players, and analysts alike. In a television landscape where more viewers are tuning in speculatively for sports, SVP emerges as a nontraditional yet worthy contender for the late-night throne, a name that deserves discussion.
