Affiliate Giants Reverse Course, Air Jimmy Kimmel After Week-Long Standoff

New York, NY – Major broadcast-media companies Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group have ended their week-long suspension of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", reinstating the late-night program across their affiliated stations. The decision follows a period of significant tension after the affiliates initially pulled the show in response to comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel, a move that prompted a public argument about network leverage and affiliate contracts.

According to James Surowiecki, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, the broadcast giants ultimately "lost their game of chicken" with ABC. Surowiecki argued that while broadcast-media companies are growing in power, they "still couldn’t afford to reject Jimmy Kimmel forever." The dispute stemmed from Kimmel's remarks regarding the shooting of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, which led FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to issue a warning about potential regulatory action against ABC and Kimmel.

Nexstar and Sinclair, which collectively own approximately 20 percent of all ABC affiliates, initially removed the show, leading ABC to announce an "indefinite" suspension. However, the financial and contractual realities of their agreements with ABC, particularly the threat of losing high-value programming like college football and "Monday Night Football," proved too significant. Surowiecki highlighted that extended preemption would have inflicted "both financial penalties and other problems" on the affiliates.

The return of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to all affiliated stations underscores the complex power dynamics between national networks and their local broadcast partners. Despite their considerable market consolidation, the affiliates faced the prospect of alienating viewers and losing revenue by continuing the boycott. The resolution suggests that the networks, particularly with their valuable sports content and growing streaming alternatives, maintain a critical advantage in such disputes.