Sinclair and Nexstar Pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! From 66 ABC Stations, Replacing It With Local News
Sinclair and Nexstar are preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 66 ABC affiliates, replacing the late‑night show with local news. The move follows controversial comments by Kimmel and affects roughly a quarter of ABC stations nationwide.
- Station groups preempting Kimmel: Nexstar statement confirms 66 ABC affiliates will run local news instead of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
- Cause of the boycott: Both companies cite Kimmel’s remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and continued preemption despite ABC announcing his return (CBS News, Axios).
- Conditions for return: Sinclair and Nexstar say the show stays off their stations unless ABC/Disney provides assurances about constructive, respectful discourse.
- Alternatives for viewers: Affected audiences can watch via Disney streaming platforms or ABC’s national feed where available (USA Today).
What happened
ABC briefly suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after host Jimmy Kimmel made remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that many found offensive. Disney later announced Kimmel’s return to the national schedule, but large affiliate groups did not follow suit.
“Ill-timed and insensitive,” Nexstar called the comments in its public statement, and both Nexstar and Sinclair said they would preempt the program on affected stations.
Scope and scale
Nexstar and Sinclair are among the largest owners of ABC-affiliated stations — Nexstar with 33 affiliates and Sinclair with 38 — and together they say 66 ABC affiliates will preempt the show, covering about a quarter of ABC markets. Affected stations include WKRN in Nashville (Nexstar) and KOMO in Seattle (Sinclair).
Official statements from the station owners
Nexstar issued a message calling Kimmel’s remarks “ill-timed and insensitive” and said its ABC affiliates will continue preemptions until it receives assurances of constructive discourse. See the full Nexstar statement.
Sinclair told viewers it replaced the late-night show with local news and is evaluating any potential return while discussions with ABC continue (coverage and company comments).
ABC and Disney response
Disney confirmed Kimmel’s return to ABC’s national schedule after the brief suspension. However, independently owned affiliates retain the legal right to decline network programming, so Disney cannot compel Nexstar or Sinclair to air the show in markets where they choose to preempt.
Why local stations can preempt network shows
Affiliation agreements grant local stations discretion to preempt network programming. Affiliates often reserve late-night slots for local news or syndicated content; what makes this situation notable is the coordinated action by two of the largest station groups, magnifying the national impact.
Local news replaces Kimmel: what viewers are seeing
In many affected markets, the usual late-night slot is filled with extended local newscasts or locally produced programming. For instance, stations in Oklahoma (KOCO, KTUL) ran extra local news blocks the night Kimmel was set to return (The Oklahoman).
Industry and regulatory backdrop
The dispute occurs as Nexstar pursues a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna that would expand its national reach — a deal that requires FCC approval. Analysts say the preemptions could signal how station owners use market power to shape programming and influence regulatory discussions (reporting, Axios analysis).
Access and alternatives for viewers
If your local ABC affiliate is owned by Sinclair or Nexstar and has preempted Jimmy Kimmel Live!, you can:
- Check the station website or social feeds for updated schedules.
- Watch the show via Disney streaming platforms or ABC’s national feed where available (USA Today).
- Find clips and segments online if live broadcast is unavailable.
Implications
Economic: National advertisers may need to re-evaluate late-night buys if preemptions persist; local stations selling local ad inventory could change pricing structures.
Political & social: The move underscores how station owners can influence cultural discourse, framing decisions as protection of respectful debate for local audiences. Conversely, critics warn of private companies restricting access to national programming.
Cultural: Replacing national late-night programming with local news may boost community reporting but reduce entertainment options on broadcast TV for late-night audiences.
Questions raised
- Will station groups negotiate terms that change how late-night content is handled on affiliates?
- Could coordinated preemptions affect FCC scrutiny of pending acquisitions?
- How will advertisers and local sponsors respond to the switch from national to local programming?
Ongoing developments
This is a fast-moving story. Sinclair, Nexstar, ABC and Disney may announce new talks or agreements at any time. Viewers, advertisers and regulators will watch for any sign of a return to network programming on the affected stations or policy changes about affiliate management of controversial content.
