Sinclair, Nexstar will bring 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' back to owned ABC stations on Friday
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Sinclair, Nexstar will bring 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' back to owned ABC stations on Friday

Why This Matters

Broadcast station owners Sinclair and Nexstar will begin airing "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after three days of preempting the program since its return.

September 26, 2025
09:07 PM
4 min read
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In this BGI your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTOn Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at North Javits in New York City, an incredible roster of all-star talent will tout their connections to storytelling, Disney, and each other while showcasing their jects for the upcoming year.Michael Le Brecht | Disney General Entertainment Content | Getty ImagesSinclair and Nexstar are returning "Jimmy Kimmel !" to ABC affiliate broadcast stations beginning Friday, the companies said in separate statements.The announcements come three days after Disney's ABC broadcast network returned the late night gram to its air after a nearly week-long suspension.

Disney had temporarily susp the late night show ing s Kimmel made the alleged murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump's MAGA movement."Our objective throughout this cess has been to ensure that gramming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience.

We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to vide gramming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network gramming," Sinclair said in a statement on Friday."Over the last week, we have received thoughtful back from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives," Sinclair said.

"We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento.

These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important."The broadcast station owners said earlier this week they would continue to preempt Kimmel's late night show, meaning it would be unavailable on local stations for roughly 20% of the country, while they evaluated the situation and continued discussions with Disney.Sinclair owns roughly 40 ABC affiliate stations in the U.S., including one in in Washington, D.C.

Nexstar owns 30 in including Salt Lake City and New Orleans.Kimmel addressed the situation — and the preemptions — during his returning show this week."We are still on the air in most of the country, except, ironically, from Washington, D.C., where we have been preempted," Kimmel said during Tuesday's monologue.

"After almost 23 years on the air, we're suddenly not being broadcast in 20% of the country, which is not a situation we relish."Sinclair said Friday it had posed measures to "strengthen accountability, viewer back, and community dialogue" at ABC and its affiliates."While ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures, and Sinclair respects their right to make those decisions under our network affiliate agreements, we believe such measures could strengthen trust and accountability," it said.Nexstar said in a statement: "We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive apach to addressing our concerns."Disney declined to Friday.Kimmel's suspension last week came shortly after Nexstar announced it would not air the gram in light of the host's s.

Sinclair soon after said it would wise preempt the gram.Those announcements ed s from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr that suggested ABC affiliate stations could be at risk of losing broadcast station licenses over Kimmel's remarks, which came during a show monologue.The series of events raised questions influence by the Trump administration on the media and First Amendment tections."Our decision to preempt this gram was independent of any government interaction or influence," Sinclair said Friday.

"Free speech vides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations.

While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions gramming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content."Earlier this week, Sen.

Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., sent a letter to Sinclair pushing to bring "Jimmy Kimmel !" back on air. Sinclair owns the Seattle ABC affiliate station.Nexstar similarly denied any government influence.

"As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to tecting the First Amendment while ducing and airing local and national news that is fact-based and unbiased and, above all, broadcasting content that is in the best interest of the communities we serve," Nexstar said in a statement.

"We stand apart from cable television, monolithic ing services, and national networks in our commitment – and obligation – to be stewards of the public airwaves and to tect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities," the statement continued.

"To be , our commitment to those principles has guided our decisions throughout this cess, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals."

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