Sinclair Broadcast Group has decided not to air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates, despite an agreement reached earlier in the day between ABC and the late-night host. This decision was announced on Monday, just before Kimmel’s show was set to return on Tuesday after a brief suspension.
Sinclair owns nearly 40 ABC affiliates across the United States, including one in Washington, D.C. The company stated that it would replace Kimmel’s show with news programming for the time being. However, they also mentioned that discussions with ABC are ongoing, suggesting that there may be a possibility of Kimmel’s show returning in the future.
This announcement came shortly after Disney, ABC’s parent company, confirmed that Kimmel’s show would be back on the air following a hiatus. The suspension was initially put in place to address backlash over comments Kimmel made regarding the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kimmel had criticized what he described as attempts by some to politicize the incident, which sparked outrage among certain viewers.
In a statement, Sinclair emphasized that they are evaluating the potential return of Kimmel’s show while maintaining their commitment to local news. The decision to preempt the show was made after both Sinclair and Nexstar, another broadcaster, announced plans to pull Kimmel’s program from their schedules.
The situation reflects ongoing tensions in the media landscape, especially regarding late-night television and its political commentary. As Sinclair continues to assess its programming strategy, it remains to be seen how this will affect Kimmel’s future on their affiliates and the broader conversation surrounding late-night comedy in America.
