Nexstar Media Group is currently weighing the fate of the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its ABC affiliate broadcast chain. It follows host Jimmy Kimmel’s inflammatory attack. The show, which airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET, has been temporarily suspended from airing on approximately 70 ABC affiliate stations owned by Nexstar and Sinclair. This decision follows Kimmel’s remarks linking the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to former President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.
Kimmel’s comments caused a mid-sized crisis for ABC, as affiliates fumed about the disastrous downstream impact this could have for ABC affiliates. ABC affiliate stations could risk losing their broadcast licenses. He highlighted the real dangers in Kimmel’s message. As a consequence of this, Nexstar said that it would pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air for the duration of its negotiations.
The popular late-night show features a diverse lineup of guests, including celebrities, athletes, musical acts, comedians, and human interest subjects, alongside comedy bits and a house band. Kimmel has hosted the show for almost 23 years, developing a devoted fanbase. That future was recently thrown into doubt by the current controversy, leading many to wonder about the show’s fate on Nexstar’s stations.
Nexstar’s continued assessment follows Disney’s own decision to pause production on the ABC late night staple Jimmy Kimmel Live! given the circumstances. Front and center during his monologue on Tuesday, Kimmel addressed the whole controversy. He claimed that he did not intend to downplay the tragedy of the young man’s murder.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” – Jimmy Kimmel
Earlier this week, Kimmel expressed his concerns about the show’s accessibility. He went on to bemoan that it’s not yet airing in 20% of the country.
“We are still on the air in most of the country, except, ironically, from Washington, D.C., where we have been preempted,” – Jimmy Kimmel
As Nexstar continues to review the status of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, they remain committed to providing quality programming while navigating the complexities of broadcast regulations and public reaction.
“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