Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Monday that it will not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliate stations, even as Disney reinstates the late-night talk show beginning Tuesday.
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting ‘ Jimmy Kimmel Live !’ across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the broadcaster posted on X. Sinclair, which owns the largest number of ABC affiliates nationwide, added that “discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
This means that those viewers who tune into one of the 39 ABC affiliated stations across America, with states including Washington DC, will still not be able to watch Kimmel’s show when it goes out live.
Kimmel’s show was initially pulled after his controversial comments about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Sources told The Post that the comedian’s reinstatement followed negotiations with Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden.
It remains uncertain whether Nexstar, which operates 32 ABC affiliates, will also preempt the programme. Together, Sinclair and Nexstar stations account for about one-fourth of ABC’s household reach, according to Deadline.
Sinclair also owns WJLA-TV , ABC’s flagship affiliate in Washington, DC, giving the decision added influence in the capital’s media market.
Meanwhile, Disney prior to the above announcement closed the matter surrounding Kimmel’s suspension and said, "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday."
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting ‘ Jimmy Kimmel Live !’ across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the broadcaster posted on X. Sinclair, which owns the largest number of ABC affiliates nationwide, added that “discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 22, 2025
This means that those viewers who tune into one of the 39 ABC affiliated stations across America, with states including Washington DC, will still not be able to watch Kimmel’s show when it goes out live.
Kimmel’s show was initially pulled after his controversial comments about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Sources told The Post that the comedian’s reinstatement followed negotiations with Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden.
It remains uncertain whether Nexstar, which operates 32 ABC affiliates, will also preempt the programme. Together, Sinclair and Nexstar stations account for about one-fourth of ABC’s household reach, according to Deadline.
Sinclair also owns WJLA-TV , ABC’s flagship affiliate in Washington, DC, giving the decision added influence in the capital’s media market.
Meanwhile, Disney prior to the above announcement closed the matter surrounding Kimmel’s suspension and said, "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday."
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