Kimmel Returns: ABC Affiliates End Boycott

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is back on air across major ABC affiliate stations after Nexstar and Sinclair rescinded their preemptions.

Nine days after a high-profile blackout, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is back on ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, restoring the late-night show’s reach to nearly a quarter of U.S. TV households. The move ends a standoff that began when both companies preempted the program following Kimmel’s remarks tied to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and amid unusually direct comments from the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

How the blackout started — and ended

ABC initially suspended the show on September 17. Though the network reinstated it the following week, Nexstar and Sinclair kept the show off many local stations until Friday, September 26, when both said they would resume carriage. Markets affected included Washington, D.C., Seattle, St. Louis, New Orleans and Nashville.

Sinclair framed the preemption — and its reversal — as an exercise of editorial judgment, saying it acted without government pressure and had discussed accountability ideas with ABC (such as appointing a network-wide ombudsman), which Disney has not adopted. Nexstar likewise said its decisions reflected “community values,” while acknowledging the show’s return.

Politics meets licensing: why the FCC loomed so large

The dispute was amplified by FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s earlier warning that broadcasters could face consequences if action wasn’t taken — remarks that later drew criticism from civil libertarians and even some Republicans, who argued regulators should not influence programming decisions. The controversy spotlighted how license oversight and political pressure can collide with editorial choices on the public airwaves.

Business realities: affiliate leverage, ad reach, and renewals

Beyond politics, the blackout exposed the commercial push-and-pull between national networks and local station groups. Analysts noted that national advertising expectations, periodic affiliate-agreement renewals, and the shrinking economics of linear TV all shaped incentives to resolve the impasse quickly. Variety reported that while Disney would take a financial hit if it chose not to renew ABC affiliation deals with Sinclair or Nexstar, the pain would be far greater for station groups whose revenue is still “almost completely dependent” on linear TV.

A merger overhang for Nexstar

Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna — now before the FCC — added another layer of scrutiny. Public interest groups and some lawmakers have already tied the Kimmel episode to broader concerns about media consolidation and editorial discretion.

What changes on the air?

With Sinclair and Nexstar reversing course, viewers in dozens of cities regain an uninterrupted ABC late-night lineup. There were no evident content concessions from Disney or Kimmel to secure the show’s return, according to multiple outlets; both station groups emphasized free-speech principles alongside their local stewardship role.

Key timeline

• Sep 17: ABC suspends “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after controversy over Kimmel’s comments linked to Charlie Kirk’s killing.
• Sep 22: ABC resumes the show; many affiliates carry it, but Nexstar and Sinclair keep preempting.
• Sep 26: Nexstar and Sinclair announce the program will return to their ABC stations that evening.

Why did some stations keep Kimmel off the air after ABC reinstated him?

Nexstar and Sinclair said they were exercising editorial responsibility and responding to community standards, even as ABC resumed national distribution.

Did regulators order the blackout?

No formal order was issued. But the FCC chair’s earlier remarks signaled potential scrutiny, drawing criticism from press-freedom advocates and some lawmakers who viewed them as inappropriate.

Were there conditions to bring the show back?

Sinclair floated accountability measures (e.g., an independent ombudsman), which Disney did not adopt; reporting indicates no editorial concessions were required for the return.

What’s next?

Watch the FCC’s review of Nexstar’s Tegna deal and the next round of ABC-affiliate renewals. Both could reshape leverage between national networks and large station groups.

Source: Sinclair, Inc ABC News The Guardian Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Deadline