Sinclair Says It Will Preempt Kimmel’s Return

Sinclair Broadcast Group said Monday it will preempt Jimmy Kimmel‘s return on its ABC affiliates, one day before the late-night host was scheduled to resume production.

“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the company said. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”

Sinclair’s statement came hours after Disney’s announcement that Kimmel would return to the air Tuesday after a nearly week-long suspension triggered by his September 17 monologue, in which he remarked that “the MAGA gang” was trying to portray Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer as “anything other than one of them.” The comments sparked backlash from conservative groups and prompted Sinclair, which owns 38 ABC affiliates, to demand that Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and make financial contributions to them and to Turning Point USA before allowing the show back on its stations.

In its announcement earlier today, ABC termed “some of” Kimmel’s comments “ill-timed and thus insensitive.” In what appeared to be sticking point in the network’s negotiations with Kimmel, the host has not apologized and neither he nor Disney have given any indicationthat he intends to do so.

Contracts between networks and affiliates generally require stations to carry network programming at designated times, ensuring nationwide reach. Affiliates retain preemption rights for breaking news or live sports, but preempting for other reasons could raise breach-of-contract concerns.

The decision means viewers in Sinclair markets, including several several larger metro areas like Washington D.C., Columbus, OH, and Seattle, WA, will see local news in place of Kimmel’s return, even as the show resumes nationwide.