Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest owner of ABC affiliates, announced it will preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” starting Tuesday, despite Disney’s decision to reinstate the host after a brief suspension. This rare standoff raises important questions about the power dynamics in U.S. broadcast television.
Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which operates 38 ABC affiliates, has acted in response to controversial comments made by Jimmy Kimmel about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “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,” the company stated Monday.
Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith called Kimmel’s comments “inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” according to Fox News. The company had also requested that Kimmel “issue a direct apology to the Kirk family” and make “a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA”.
Disney, which owns ABC, suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on September 17 after Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group pulled the show from their affiliates. However, on Monday, Disney announced Kimmel’s return. “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,” Disney said in a statement. “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return to the show on Tuesday”.
Controversial Comments Spark Nationwide Backlash
The controversy arose following Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue on September 15, which addressed the assassination of Charlie Kirk. During the broadcast, Kimmel stated: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it”.
Kimmel also criticized President Trump’s response to Kirk’s death, saying, “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish”. The comments came after Kimmel showed clips of Trump discussing White House ballroom construction when asked about coping with Kirk’s death.
Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10 at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested and charged with the murder.
Unprecedented Affiliate Rebellion
Sinclair’s choice not to air the program, even after Disney’s reinstatement, is unusual. As the operator of ABC’s main affiliate, WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., this decision significantly influences the capital’s media market. Nexstar Media Group manages 32 ABC affiliates and has yet to announce whether it will also preempt the show.
The dispute has significant implications, as Sinclair and Nexstar stations make up about 25% of ABC’s household reach. Millions could potentially lose access to Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. It also reflects broader tensions between local broadcasters and national networks, as both companies seek FCC approval for major acquisitions.
The suspension followed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s criticism of Jimmy Kimmel’s comments, which he called “truly sick.” Carr suggested there could be a “strong case” for regulatory action against ABC and Disney.
The ongoing negotiations reveal the shifting landscape of the television industry, where corporate interests and regulatory challenges intersect. As a result, viewers in Sinclair markets will need to find other sources for late-night comedy, while the industry closely monitors this unusual affiliate discontent.