Meyers' ratings top Fallon's 'Late Night' debut

Associated Press
This Feb. 24, 2014 image released by NBC shows host Seth Meyers during the premiere of his new late night talk show, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" in New York. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

NEW YORK (AP) — Nielsen says Seth Meyers is off to a good start hosting NBC's "Late Night."

The premiere of "Late Night with Seth Meyers" averaged 3.4 million viewers in "fast official" ratings from Nielsen. NBC says that's the biggest audience for a Monday "Late Night" in nine years. The network says it also beat the 2009 debut of "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" by more than a half-million viewers.

Fallon began last week as host of "The Tonight Show." On Monday, he drew 6.3 million viewers. That's the largest Monday audience for "Tonight" in four years, when Jay Leno returned as host to replace Conan O'Brien.

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" topped Monday's combined audience for CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in the time period.