Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Friday that it will return Jimmy Kimmel Live! to its ABC affiliate stations beginning Friday, ending a brief period of preemptions that kept the late-night program off the air for viewers in certain U.S. markets. The decision comes three days after Disney’s ABC network reinstated the show following a nearly week-long suspension prompted by controversial comments made by Kimmel regarding the alleged murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and remarks about President Trump’s MAGA movement.
In a statement, Sinclair noted that over the past week, the company had received extensive feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing diverse perspectives. The statement also referenced “troubling acts of violence,” including a recent shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento, underscoring the company’s focus on responsible broadcasting and the importance of respectful dialogue.
Earlier in the week, Sinclair and fellow ABC affiliate owner Nexstar Media Group had preempted the show, affecting roughly 20% of U.S. viewers, while ongoing discussions with Disney evaluated potential measures to address accountability and community concerns. “In our ongoing and constructive discussions with ABC, Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman,” the statement said. “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.”
Sinclair operates approximately 40 ABC affiliate stations across the U.S., including a major station in Washington, D.C., while Nexstar owns roughly 30 affiliates in markets such as Salt Lake City and New Orleans. A representative for Nexstar did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Disney also declined to comment.
Kimmel’s temporary suspension followed Nexstar’s initial decision to pull the program from its local stations, a move soon mirrored by Sinclair. The situation drew attention from the Federal Communications Commission, with Chairman Brendan Carr suggesting that ABC affiliates could potentially face risks to their broadcast licenses due to the host’s remarks. Sinclair, however, emphasized that its preemption decision was independent of government influence, highlighting that free speech grants broadcasters the discretion to make programming decisions for their local markets.
During his return to the air this week, Kimmel acknowledged the preemptions and the unusual circumstances surrounding the broadcast. “We are still on the air in most of the country, except, ironically, from Washington, D.C., where we have been preempted,” he 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.”
The reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Sinclair stations marks a resolution to the temporary disruption and demonstrates ongoing efforts by affiliate owners and the network to balance free expression, community standards, and viewer expectations in the face of controversial content. The dialogue between ABC affiliates and the Disney network over accountability measures is expected to continue, with potential long-term implications for how local stations handle programming decisions amid sensitive national discussions.
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