Sinclair Broadcast Group is not backing down from its decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its ABC affiliates, even after the late-night host returned to air this week. The network group, which operates 39 ABC-affiliated stations nationwide, said talks with ABC are continuing while his future on those stations remains under review.
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” the company stated Monday, following ABC’s confirmation of Kimmel’s return after weeks of absence.
The move has created a major problem for ABC. By sidelining Kimmel in markets that include Washington, D.C.’s WJLA-TV, Sinclair removed a large portion of the show’s broadcast distribution. Nexstar, another massive station group with 32 ABC affiliates, soon joined in and shelved Kimmel as well. Together, the two groups control about a quarter of ABC’s national reach. If ABC cannot guarantee distribution for its own late-night lineup, how much authority does the network really have over its affiliates?
Nextstar, another one of the largest owners of ABC affiliates appeared unconvinced by Kimmel’s sad-faced monologue from Tuesday, and announced that they too will continue to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC stations, extending a blackout that began after the late-night host’s controversial remarks about Kirk’s killing. “Nexstar is continuing to evaluate the status of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on our ABC-affiliated local television stations, and the show will be preempted while we do so,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
The controversy centers on a monologue last week when Kimmel lashed out at conservatives, referring to “the MAGA gang” and tying them to the murder of the Turning Point USA founder, rather than an Antifa-inspired ally of the transgender community. Kimmel’s comments set off widespread anger on the right and drew attention from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who warned the industry directly: “Frankly, when you see stuff like this, I mean, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
The response was swift.
Nexstar first said it would pull Kimmel from its ABC stations. ABC then announced that the host would be taken off the air indefinitely. Sinclair followed by demanding more from both the network and Kimmel himself. The company called on the late-night host to issue an apology to the family of Charlie Kirk and to make “a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.” The broadcaster added that it would not lift its suspension until “formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability.”
Is this only about one monologue, or is it a larger fight over whether broadcast networks are willing to hold their talent accountable when accusations of bias and hostility cross the line? Sinclair and Nexstar appear to be testing that very question, now forcing ABC to decide whether Jimmy Kimmel remains an asset or a liability in front of millions of viewers each week.
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