Sinclair Broadcast Group has announced that it will end its preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and restore the late-night show to its ABC affiliates, beginning this evening.
Sinclair is the largest group of ABC affiliates in the country with nearly 40 ABC-affiliated stations in its portfolio, most of which it owns and operates. It was one of the two station groups that informed ABC it was dropping Kimmel last week following comments from FCC chair Brendan Carr, leading ABC to pull the show nationwide. After ABC reinstated Kimmel earlier this week, Sinclair said it would continue to preempt the show.
In a statement Friday afternoon, the company said its objective “throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience.” Sinclair emphasized its responsibility to both national network obligations and the communities it serves, noting that the decision came after hearing “thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives.”
The company also cited “troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento,” as part of the broader context for why “responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important.”
Sinclair revealed it had proposed to ABC a series of accountability measures, including the creation of a network-wide independent ombudsman to facilitate viewer feedback and community dialogue. Although ABC and Disney have not adopted those measures, Sinclair said it respected their decision while continuing to believe such steps could help “strengthen trust and accountability.”
The broadcaster pushed back against speculation about political influence, stressing that its programming choices were “independent of any government interaction or influence.” Sinclair framed the move as part of a balance between free speech and editorial judgment, stating: “It is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.”
Looking ahead, the company pledged to continue working with ABC “to deliver content that serves a broad spectrum of our communities.”
As we’ve reported, Kimmel’s return Tuesday was greeted with record ratings, despite not being carried in 23% of the country. Sinclair stations had been airing local news and other content in place of the show.
At press time, Nexstar Media Group, the only major station group still preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, continued with its blackout of the program. The company, which owns 28 ABC affiliates, has not yet announced any changes to its policy or indicated when the show might return to its stations.
They realized they’re not the only game in town and they were only hurting themselves! Plenty of other ways to watch.