Nexstar Media Group announced on Tuesday that despite Disney’s decision to reinstate “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” nationwide, their owned and affiliated ABC stations will not resume broadcasting the show.
“Last week, we chose to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC described as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments during a crucial moment in national conversations,” the company stated in a press release. “We uphold that choice until we are confident that all involved are dedicated to promoting respectful and constructive discussions in our service areas.”
This announcement follows a turbulent week for Disney and its ABC network. Disney removed Kimmel’s late-night show from its schedule “indefinitely” last week after Kimmel criticized Republicans for their reaction to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s killing.
“The MAGA group is frantically trying to portray this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything but one of their own and is doing everything possible to gain political leverage from it,” Kimmel remarked on his September 15 show.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr then threatened to “initiate proceedings” against Disney and ABC due to Kimmel’s statements. However, Disney’s move to sideline Kimmel met with backlash from both celebrities and the public, with some protesting and others declaring a boycott of Disney.
By Monday, Disney announced Kimmel’s return for Tuesday. Nevertheless, station owners Nexstar and Sinclair have remained firm in their decision to preempt the show on their ABC affiliates.
The show “will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets,” Nexstar said Tuesday.
Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with fellow station owner Tegna.
Sinclair had said its stations would “air a special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk” in place of Kimmel’s show on Friday and “will not lift the suspension” of the program “until formal discussions are held with ABC.” On Monday, the company said that it would continue pre-empting the program on its ABC stations.
Sinclair is currently exploring merger options for its broadcast business, which would also require FCC clearance, CNBC reported.
