ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be making a comeback on Sinclair Broadcasting and Nexstar Media Group stations starting tonight, as announced by the companies on Friday. Initially, both broadcasters had declined to resume airing the show following a suspension by Disney, the owner of ABC, due to remarks made by the late-night host in a monologue regarding the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
This decision will see Jimmy Kimmel Live! back on local TV on Nexstar’s ABC affiliates in 28 cities and on the 38 stations where Sinclair has agreed to reinstate the show. Sinclair stated in a press release on Friday that their aim was to ensure that programming remains engaging for a broad audience, emphasizing their commitment to free speech and asserting that their choice was not influenced by any external pressure.
Nexstar, following suit a few hours later, also cited their dedication to the principles of free speech in their decision. Prior to ABC’s indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show, both Sinclair and Nexstar had preempted its broadcast on their stations. Sinclair had criticized Kimmel’s comments and had insisted on formal discussions with ABC before lifting the suspension.
FCC chair Brendan Carr had warned local broadcasters airing Kimmel’s show of potential fines or license revocation prior to the suspension. Despite the challenges, Kimmel’s return on Tuesday attracted a significant viewership, with over 6.26 million viewers tuning in, and his opening monologue on YouTube amassing over 21.9 million views as of Friday afternoon.
The public response to Kimmel’s suspension has been mixed, with various late-night hosts expressing support for him and concerns about free speech implications. Some viewers even canceled their Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions as a form of protest. Political figures from both sides of the spectrum weighed in on the issue, with some demanding a more substantial apology from Kimmel for his remarks.
In the midst of the controversy, Kimmel reiterated his commitment to free speech and clarified his intentions behind the controversial comments made on his show. Despite the challenges faced by the show, Kimmel’s return has sparked a national conversation about the boundaries of free speech in media.
[End of Rewritten Article]
