“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to air after Disney lifted its indefinite suspension, yet two major affiliate owners, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group, will not air the show. Disney owns ABC, the network hosting Kimmel, and reinstated the program following talks with Kimmel’s team. However, Nexstar and Sinclair, which control 70 of the 250 ABC stations in the U.S., have maintained their decision to preempt the show.

The suspension was a response to remarks Kimmel made regarding conservative figure Charlie Kirk, coinciding with strong warnings from FCC Chair Brendan Carr about potential fines for affiliates airing the show. This prompted backlash from several political figures, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Critics argue that the FCC’s pressure sets a dangerous precedent for media content.

Nexstar denied any political influence in its decision to preempt the show, asserting it was made independently. Sinclair, on the other hand, has opted for news programming on its affiliates and had suggested Kimmel apologize for his comments. Meanwhile, Disney’s decision to reinstate Kimmel has come amid public pressure and celebrities calling for boycotts of its platforms. The dynamics highlight ongoing tensions between network programming and local affiliate decisions in the evolving media landscape.



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