Over the past two decades, Jimmy Kimmel has become a household name, known for his engaging interviews with a multitude of guests on his late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In a memorable exchange with Disney CEO Bob Iger in late 2019, Kimmel humorously noted, “I’ve probably, with the possible exception of Roseanne, caused you more headaches than anyone in the last 15 years.” To which Iger responded, “Absolutely.” However, the recent decision by ABC to suspend Kimmel’s show indefinitely has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions surrounding the influence of corporate media and governmental pressures.
This week, ABC, the broadcaster of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, announced the indefinite suspension of the show through an anonymous spokesperson. While Iger was not publicly present during this announcement, reports indicate he played a significant role in the decision-making process. As one of the most influential executives in the media landscape, Iger is part of a select group of leaders steering major media organizations across the United States.
Other prominent figures in this sphere include David Ellison, the new CEO of Paramount Skydance, who is pursuing a deal to acquire the owner of CNN, and Brian Roberts, the chair of Comcast, overseeing NBC and its cable news entity, MSNBC. In light of ongoing pressures from the Trump administration, major broadcasters have found themselves navigating a treacherous landscape.
Recently, CBS settled a $16 million defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump, while ABC faced a $15 million settlement, leading to Kimmel's suspension. Trump has publicly urged NBC to cancel its late-night stars, including Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, further illustrating the strained relationship between media entities and political figures.
The executives managing the largest television networks in the U.S. often belong to expansive corporations engaged in complex business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. These transactions frequently draw the scrutiny of the White House, with FCC chair Brendan Carr, labeled as Trump’s “censor-in-chief,” issuing veiled threats regarding Kimmel’s comments about conservatives following the death of Charlie Kirk.
According to Robert Thompson, a media scholar at Syracuse University, the long-standing battles between government regulators and broadcasting companies have transformed as networks become part of larger conglomerates. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 significantly loosened restrictions on media ownership, allowing a handful of corporations to control the vast majority of American media. For instance, CBS is now under the umbrella of Paramount Skydance, which encompasses various entertainment channels, while ABC is owned by Disney, which also manages Marvel Studios, Hulu, and ESPN.
This consolidation raises serious concerns for First Amendment advocates, who argue that major corporations are increasingly yielding to governmental pressures to secure regulatory approvals for their mergers. The recent suspension of Kimmel's show coincided with a critical time for CBS, as it had just settled with Trump shortly before receiving FCC approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance.
Christopher Anders, a senior legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), criticized Carr for using governmental regulatory power to influence media narratives. He emphasized that such actions undermine the core principles of the First Amendment, which protects the right to criticize those in power. “If there’s any speech that’s at the very heart of the first amendment, it would be the ability to criticize those in power, particularly the ability to criticize the president,” Anders stated.
As Disney faces mounting scrutiny over its decision to suspend Kimmel, former CEO Michael Eisner expressed his concern on social media, calling it a troubling instance of intimidation. The question remains: when, or if, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to the airwaves. The intricate relationship between major media companies and the government poses significant challenges for maintaining the freedom of expression in the media landscape.
“Anyone that has the privilege of owning one of the major media networks ought to also recognize their responsibility to protect the right of free speech,” Anders concluded, highlighting the critical need for media companies to stand firm against political intimidation.
