After Disney decided to lift its indefinite suspension, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is set to resume broadcasting. However, two of the largest ABC affiliate owners-Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Nexstar Media Group-have chosen not to air the popular late-night show.
As the parent company of ABC, Disney announced on Monday evening that the program would return following negotiations involving Kimmel’s team and network officials. Despite this, Nexstar and Sinclair remain firm in their decision to keep the show off their stations.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The refusal by these affiliates to broadcast the show significantly limits its audience reach. Together, Nexstar and Sinclair control 70 out of the 250 ABC stations nationwide, creating a notable rift with the network.
Nexstar’s Strategic Position
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! by ABC followed controversial comments made by Kimmel regarding the death of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. This action came shortly after FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued a warning that stations airing the show might face penalties, including fines or potential loss of broadcast licenses, urging broadcasters to “step up.”
Carr’s stance sparked criticism from various political figures, including allies of former President Donald Trump. Texas Senator Ted Cruz described Carr’s remarks as “dangerous as hell,” with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell concurring that Cruz’s assessment was accurate.
Nexstar, which owns 23 ABC affiliates, is currently seeking approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna. This merger would expand their reach to 80% of U.S. households, surpassing the existing 39% ownership cap and necessitating regulatory changes. Carr has been a proponent of lifting this cap.
Seth Stern, advocacy director at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, criticized Nexstar’s decision, stating, “Their compliance in hopes of securing merger approval exemplifies why such consolidation should be blocked. Large media conglomerates wield immense power to suppress free speech, both through self-censorship and exerting pressure on networks.”
Last week, Carr commended Nexstar for dropping Kimmel’s show in key markets like Salt Lake City, Nashville, and New Orleans.
Margot Susca, a journalism and democracy professor at American University, expressed concern over the FCC’s pressure, warning it sets a dangerous precedent.
“While it’s Kimmel now, tomorrow it could be a program like Meet The Press if corporate media owners face similar pressures from the administration or FCC leadership. This threatens the diversity of content on broadcast television,” Susca explained.
Media analysts point to the significant influence affiliate owners hold in programming decisions.
In the U.S., affiliates license content from networks and pay carriage fees, benefiting from increased viewership and shared advertising revenue. Affiliates can also preempt network shows, often for local news during emergencies or political events.
“Station operators can opt out of airing certain programs because their reliance on networks has diminished, especially as audiences increasingly turn to social media and streaming services,” said Tom Letizia, a media consultant and head of the Letizia Agency.
“Ultimately, this is a business driven by ratings. Without strong viewership, stations can’t command premium advertising rates,” he added.
In smaller markets, local political advertising often constitutes a large portion of revenue, and misaligned political views could jeopardize these funds.
Nexstar maintains its indefinite preemption of Kimmel’s show and plans to “monitor the program’s return to ABC.” The company denies any political influence or pressure from the Trump administration.
“The decision was made solely by Nexstar’s senior executives without prior communication with the FCC or any government body,” a Nexstar spokesperson told Al Jazeera.
Sinclair’s Position
On Monday, Sinclair Broadcasting announced it will continue to withhold Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its 38 ABC affiliates, opting instead to air news content.
The broadcaster has demanded that Kimmel issue an apology and make a substantial personal donation to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by Kirk.
Sinclair has a history of conservative bias. In 2024, David Smith, Sinclair’s executive chairman, contributed $250,000 to Turning Point USA through his family foundation, which shares the same address as Sinclair’s headquarters.
In 2018, Sinclair required local news anchors to read a scripted message criticizing “biased media coverage,” a move praised by then-President Trump. This occurred during Sinclair’s attempted $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media, a deal that ultimately fell through.
“As station owners, Sinclair controls content decisions. The company is known for its right-leaning editorial slant,” Susca noted.
“When Sinclair acquires a station, it tends to shift coverage toward conservative national politics,” she added.
A 2019 study published in the American Political Science Review confirmed that Sinclair stations exhibit a stronger conservative bias compared to competitors in the same markets.
Sinclair stated that discussions with ABC are ongoing regarding the show’s potential return but did not provide further comments.
Disney’s Reinstatement
Disney’s decision to bring back Jimmy Kimmel Live! follows significant public backlash. Numerous celebrities and politicians called for boycotts of Disney-owned services such as Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu after the suspension.
Google Trends data revealed a surge in cancellation searches for these platforms, reaching record highs post-suspension.
ABC directly owns only eight stations, including major markets like New York and Houston. In New York, WABC faced criticism when mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani withdrew from a debate it was hosting, citing the suspension of Kimmel’s show.
“Broadcast media operates as a business. The removal and reinstatement of Kimmel’s show are both driven by commercial considerations,” Susca emphasized.
Over the past five days, Disney’s stock has declined by 2.78%.
Laura Crompton, a media analyst and head of Hopscotch’s Los Angeles office, predicted that Kimmel’s return episode could attract high viewership.
“It appears Disney is standing firm against undue pressure. While the standoff continues in some regions, Kimmel’s comeback is likely to draw significant audiences. And thankfully, fans won’t have to sacrifice their favorite Disney+ shows,” Crompton told Al Jazeera.
Disney did not respond to requests for further comment.
