Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair both announced Friday that they will cease pre-empting Jimmy Kimmel Live! effective immediately. Kimmel’s show, which returned Tuesday night after a nearly weeklong blackout, will now effectively be available throughout the entire United States including in markets where Nexstar and Sinclair-owned ABC affiliates had been refusing to air new episodes.
That means that cities like Nashville, Salt Lake City, Washington DC, and New Orleans will see episodes on ABC starting tonight.
Last week, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following comments Kimmel made about the death of conservative activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on October 10 during a public appearance in Utah. The suspension followed comments from FCC chairman Brendan Carr, aTrump Administration appointee, who suggested that the broadcast licenses of ABC and its affiliates could potentially be revoked over comments.
Nexstar, which owns numerous ABC afilliate stations and is in the process of trying to aquire fellow broadcast company Tegna, soon announced they would be pre-empting Kimmel’s show. Kimmel’s suspension by ABC followed soon after.
Kimmel returned to the airwaves this past Tuesday to most– but not all– ABC affiliates. In an emotional monologue, Kimmel said “it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”
In a statement Friday, Nexstar Media Group said:
“We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns. As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment while producing 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. We stand apart from cable television, monolithic streaming services, and national networks in our commitment – and obligation – to be stewards of the public airwaves and to protect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities. To be clear, our commitment to those principles has guided our decisions throughout this process, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals.”
In a separate statement Sinclair, also announced earlier today the end to Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s blackout across their stations.
“Sinclair today announced that it will end its preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the show will return, this evening, on Sinclair’s ABC affiliates,” the statement read.
“Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence. Free speech provides 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 about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.”
Friday night’s broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! is scheduled to be a repeat of Tuesday night’s show featuring Glen Powell and Sarah McLachlan.
