“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is expected to return Tuesday, but that does not necessarily mean all broadcast markets will carry the show.
Nexstar Media Group Inc. said Tuesday that it will preempt Tuesday’s show and following shows even though Disney lifted the suspension Monday, per Fox News.
“We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse,” the company said in a statement. “We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
“In the meantime, we note that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets,” the statement continued.
Thirty-two ABC affiliate stations are owned by Nexstar.
This announcement comes on the heels of another made by Sinclair Broadcast Group Monday.
That company, which operates 30 ABC affiliates, said it will continue to preempt Kimmel’s show.
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” the company posted on X.
The show was initially pulled last Wednesday after Kimmel’s remarks about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk.
Viewer outrage and a threat from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) followed.
Kimmel allegedly told executives he would not apologize for his comments.
Liberals contend Kimmel was being punished for exercising freedom of speech. Conservatives, on the other hand, said Kimmel’s comments suggesting Kirk’s suspected killer was a MAGA member were outrageous, offensive and untrue.
Kimmel is expected to address the controversy on Tuesday’s show.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said last Monday.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments “some of the sickest conduct” and said there were “avenues” the FCC could explore.
Nexstar announced a deal last month to acquire broadcast media company Tegna for $6.2 billion. The deal requires the approval of the FCC.
