After ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would resume operations on Tuesday evening, one question remained: would Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group continue to preempt the program? Sinclair answered that question on Monday evening, and on Tuesday morning, Nexstar answered as well.
In a statement released by the broadcast giant, it revealed that it would — like Sinclair — continue to preempt the program when it returns at 11:35 PM ET on Tuesday evening.
“We made a decision last week to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! following what ABC referred to as Mr.
Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse,” the statement read.
“We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve. In the meantime, we note that Jimmy Kimmel Live! 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.”
On Monday evening, Sinclair shared a similar statement, saying it would replace Jimmy Kimmel Live! with news programming, adding that “discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
The suspension for Kimmel came after FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened action against ABC after the late-night host argued that the assassin of Charlie Kirk was a member of the Make America Great Again movement, and laughed at the reaction from President Donald Trump to Kirk’s death.
In an appearance on Benny Johnson’s podcast, Commissioner Carr said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” ABC subsequently announced Kimmel’s suspension hours later, after affiliate ownership groups Sinclair and Nexstar announced they would preempt his late-night program.
Carr later championed the moves from Sinclair and Nexstar, stating that they did “the right thing” and took “quick action” to being “responsive to the needs and values of the local communities you serve.” He concluded by noting his hope that “other broadcasters follow” the lead set forth by those two entities.
The decision by Nexstar Media Group to preempt the program comes as it is in the midst of seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion deal to acquire television rival TEGNA.
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