Why 66 ABC Stations Won’t Air Jimmy Kimmel’s Return: The Nexstar and Sinclair Stand-off Explained

Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to ABC on Tuesday night, but many viewers might miss out. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar have decided to pull his show in several areas, replacing it with local news instead.

Sinclair stated, “We’ll be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliates. We’re in talks with ABC about the show’s future.” This follows Kimmel’s comments, which some found insensitive during a heated moment in U.S. politics. Nexstar echoed this, saying they made the choice to preempt the show to ensure a respectful dialogue in their communities.

The Walt Disney Co. also confirmed that Kimmel would be back after a nearly week-long suspension. They explained, “We felt some comments were ill-timed and insensitive. After discussions with Jimmy, we decided to resume the show.”

However, Sinclair owns 38 ABC stations nationwide, including the Washington D.C. affiliate, while Nexstar operates 28. Their pushback played a big role in Disney’s initial decision to pause Kimmel’s show after controversial remarks he made about a recent incident involving Charlie Kirk.

Interestingly, Nexstar is looking to solidify its media presence. They have plans for a $6 billion deal to acquire Tegna, which would make them the largest local TV station owner in the U.S. Sinclair is also eyeing mergers and acquisitions, pending regulatory approval.

In today’s media landscape, local decisions drastically affect national programming. Kimmel’s experience highlights how broadcast companies respond to audience sentiments, especially in turbulent times. As the situation unfolds, audiences can still catch his show on various Disney streaming platforms.

For further insight into media operations and local broadcasting, check out articles from the Pew Research Center on current industry trends.

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