Nexstar, Sinclair ABC Stations to Continue Kimmel Blackout

Two major station owners will continue to air other programming instead of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, illustrating that the controversy has yet to fully subside.

Combined, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Company control roughly one-quarter of ABC affiliate stations.

“Nexstar is continuing to evaluate the status of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on our ABC-affiliated local television stations, and the show will be preempted while we do so,” Nexstar said in a statement. “We are engaged in productive discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company, with a focus on ensuring the program reflects and respects the diverse interests of the communities we serve.”

During his return on Tuesday night, Kimmel mentioned that his show wouldn’t be seen over the air in Washington, DC, Seattle, Nashville, New Orleans, and other big cities. Viewers who want to watch Kimmel can still see his show via Disney’s streaming services.

Sinclair Broadcasting Company, the largest owner of ABC stations, said in a statement that its local affiliates would also continue not to air Kimmel. A spokesperson for the company referred to Business Insider to its previous statement.

“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” Sinclair said in a statement on Monday. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”

Nexstar, which owns more than two dozen ABC affiliates, was the first major station group to say it would not air Kimmel’s show before ABC suspended the host and his program. Nexstar’s moves are being closely watched due to its pending $6.2 billion merger with rival Tegna. The FCC needs to sign off on that deal.

Related stories

During his monologue, Kimmel also addressed his suspension and the criticism of his comments about the killing of Charlie Kirk. It has quickly become Kimmel’s most-watched YouTube video of the year with more than 13.6 million views and counting.

“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

Kimmel did not explicitly apologize for his comments about Kirk’s killing. Before Kimmel returned, Sinclair, which is known for its conservative leanings, outlined a number of demands before it would air his show on its stations, including for Kimmel to issue a direct apology to Kirk’s family. The company also requested that Kimmel make “a meaningful personal donation” to Kirk’s family and Turning Point USA, Kirk’s organization, which his widow Erika is now overseeing.

During his return, Kimmel also criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, for pressuring local stations not to air Kimmel’s show.

Disney’s decision to return Kimmel to the airwaves came after an intense pressure campaign that included pushes to cancel Disney+ subscriptions, an open letter signed by some of the biggest Hollywood actors, and criticism from congressional Democrats.

“This show is not important,” Kimmel said. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”