TV viewers whose local ABC stations are operated by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Nexstar Media will finally be able to watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” days after the talk show returned to small screens for the rest of the country.
Officially calling off their boycott, the corporations said the late-night show would be back in its usual timeslot Friday night, ending a dayslong blackout that affected ABC stations in nearly 70 cities.
The companies preempted the show on Sept. 17 and replaced it with other programming following days of consternation over remarks Kimmel made in the wake of the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Disney, the parent company of ABC, also suspended Kimmel after he offended MAGA loyalists by claiming Kirk’s killer was “one of them.” That suspension was later lifted, with Kimmel returning to most ABC affiliates on Tuesday, but both Nexstar and Sinclair still refused to air the show.
However on Friday, following what the companies called “constructive” discussions, they announced Kimmel would return to their airwaves immediately.
Sinclair, which controls 38 ABC affiliates in cities including Rochester, N.Y. and Washington, D.C., said in a statement that it spoke with executives at ABC and Disney and “proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman.”
Sinclair conceded that ABC and Disney “have not yet adopted these measures,” but said the media giant remains hopeful.
Nexstar, which runs ABC affiliates in 28 cities, including Albany, Syracuse and Watertown, N.Y., similarly said it had conversations with Disney to address their concerns, but provided no details on what exactly was discussed.
“As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment while producing and airing local and national news that is fact-based and unbiased and, above all, broadcasting content that is in the best interest of the communities we serve,” the company said in a statement.
Nextar stated that it sees itself as a steward of the public airwaves and has a responsibility to protect the “specific sensibilities” of its viewers.
“To be clear, our commitment to those principles has guided our decisions throughout this process, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals,” the corporation said.
With News Wire Services
