Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest owners of broadcast TV stations in the United States, has announced that it will not air the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday. This decision aligns with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which also stated on Monday that it would not air the late-night show and would instead provide alternative programming. The announcement comes after ABC, the parent company of Disney, revealed plans to bring back Jimmy Kimmel Live! following an indefinite pause initiated last week due to controversial comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel.
During a recent episode, Kimmel linked the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to former President Donald Trump's MAGA movement, which prompted significant backlash. In a statement on Tuesday, Nexstar emphasized its position, stating, "We made a decision last week to preempt 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel's 'ill-timed and insensitive' comments at a critical time in our national discourse." The company affirmed its stance, indicating that it would maintain the preemption until there is assurance that all parties involved are committed to fostering respectful dialogue within the markets they serve.
While Nexstar and Sinclair have chosen to preempt the broadcast, they noted that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will still be accessible nationwide via various Disney-owned streaming platforms. Nexstar's statement highlighted that their stations would continue to focus on producing local news and relevant programming for their audiences.
Nexstar and Sinclair are among the largest broadcast television station owners in the U.S. Nexstar operates approximately 30 ABC-affiliated stations in key markets like Salt Lake City, Nashville, and New Orleans, while Sinclair manages nearly 40 ABC affiliate stations. Following Nexstar’s lead, Sinclair also decided to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! after ABC announced it would return to broadcast this week. Sinclair's statement on Monday indicated that discussions with ABC were ongoing as they evaluate the show's potential return.
A representative from Disney did not provide comments regarding the ongoing discussions with Sinclair and other affiliated station owners. In its announcement about Kimmel's return, Disney explained that the decision to suspend production was made to avoid further escalating a tense situation in the country. Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, were reported to have made the decision to resume airing Kimmel's show on Monday.
Local television stations play a crucial role in delivering not only local content, such as live news, but also national programming that includes live sports, late-night TV, national news shows, and primetime series. These station owners are licensed by the government to operate their spectrum, and networks provide their broadcasts free-to-air, allowing consumers to access them via antenna.
In light of Kimmel's controversial remarks, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr raised concerns regarding the potential revocation of broadcast licenses for stations and networks that fail to operate in the public interest. During an appearance on CNBC, Carr stated that Kimmel's comments seemed to mislead the American public about "one of the most significant political events we've had in a long time."
During Kimmel's opening monologue last Monday, he criticized the MAGA movement for attempting to distance itself from the actions of the individual who murdered Charlie Kirk, suggesting that political point-scoring was at play amidst a backdrop of grief. The White House's decision to fly flags at half-staff in response to Kirk's death drew some criticism, highlighting the emotional weight of the situation.
As news continues to develop, viewers are encouraged to refresh for updates regarding the status of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the responses from major broadcast networks concerning the show's return.
