Nexstar Media Group will resume airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its 32 ABC-affiliated stations Monday, reversing its decision to preempt the show due to controversial comments by host Jimmy Kimmel about Charlie Kirk’s killer. Sinclair Broadcast Group also announced it will restore the program on its 38 ABC stations, ending a short-lived protest that began last week after Kimmel’s remarks on Sept. 15.
ABC briefly suspended the show on Sept. 17 but reinstated it on Sept. 23, achieving record ratings despite the blackout by Nexstar and Sinclair. The return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to all U.S. markets is a win for Disney and ABC, which faced backlash for allegedly yielding to pressure from the Trump administration. Critics, including Hollywood guilds, accused Disney of failing to defend First Amendment rights, with some consumers threatening to boycott services like Disney+.
The controversy escalated when FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned of “news distortion” complaints against ABC stations unless Kimmel was fired, stating on a Sept. 17 podcast that broadcasters could either “change conduct” or face FCC action. Nexstar’s initial decision to pull Kimmel was seen as an effort to curry favor with Carr, especially as the company awaits FCC approval for its $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna. Both Nexstar and Sinclair denied their decisions were influenced by government pressure.
Disney explained its temporary suspension of the show as an effort to avoid “inflaming a tense situation,” but after discussions with Kimmel, reinstated the program. Nexstar, based in Irving, Texas, operates 23 owned ABC stations and provides services to nine others, including stations in Salt Lake City (KTVX), New Orleans (WGNO), and Nashville (WKRN).
In a Sept. 17 statement, Nexstar’s broadcasting president Andrew Alford called Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive,” arguing they did not reflect the values of the communities served by their stations.