Sinclair, Nexstar return Jimmy Kimmel to the airwaves

But not without a defense of taking the show off the air

Sinclair and Nexstar decided to return Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the airwaves Friday, after over a week off the air due to the host’s comments about the person who assassinated Charlie Kirk. Both parties were “engaged in discussions” with the network after ABC reinstated Kimmel on Tuesday night. However, Nexstar and Sinclair chose to continue preempting the show after being responsible for having Kimmel pulled off the air in the first place.

Sinclair was the one who blinked first, stating (you can read the full press release here) 

“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience. We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming.

Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives. We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station [Tegna-owned KXTV] in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important.”

Several hours later, Nexstar also lifted its blackout of Kimmel, stating (you can read the full press release here) 

“We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns.  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.  We stand apart from cable television, monolithic streaming services, and national networks in our commitment – and obligation – to be stewards of the public airwaves and to protect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities.  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.”

Both companies denied that the blackout was related to obstructing the First Amendment or trying to gain favor with the FCC. Chairman Brendan Carr mentioned on a right-wing podcast that ABC affiliates could risk losing their licenses for airing Jimmy Kimmel due to his comments and nightly criticisms of Trump. That prompted Nexstar and Sinclair’s ABC affiliates, covering about a quarter of the country, to pull the show, forcing ABC to suspend Kimmel. Sinclair and Nexstar have pending deals with the FCC, including a billion-dollar merger between Nexstar and rival broadcaster Tegna, which would give them 265 stations and a presence in nearly every top-twenty market. Carr has since backtracked from his remarks, but still believes affiliates should have more rights to pre-empt programming as they see fit.  

There was talk of ABC possibly retaliating against Nexstar and Sinclair by yanking other ABC programming, including college and NFL football games from each station, and perhaps clearing it on another outlet. However, nothing of the sort ever materialized, and if ABC had removed those shows – especially football, it would’ve created even more backlash against the network – especially among conservative politicians, who represent areas in the South where college football is a religion more than anything else. 

The impasse also raised questions about the role of affiliates in today’s media ecosystem, as major networks could potentially bypass local stations entirely and stream their content directly. However, not all of the country has access to affordable broadband internet, especially in low-income areas in what is known as the “digital divide”. Any move to streaming would be disastrous for any broadcaster, and they need stations for reach. 

Also, the “extended news programming” both groups aired in place of Kimmel likely did not fare well in the ratings as replacement programming (Kimmel’s return drew 6.3 million viewers Tuesday night and 21 million viewers on YouTube.) With newscasts airing throughout the day on these stations, what viewers don’t want is yet another rehash of the day’s news, and it’s not appealing to them – or advertisers. 

Indeed, it was public pressure on Disney and these station groups to back down and bring Kimmel back. Networks and stations need to remember: without audiences, there’s no ratings and there’s no revenue. Despite the decline in Kimmel’s ratings over the years, were they truly willing to forfeit potential revenue by airing lower-rated programs such as reruns of Celebrity Family Feud and “extended news” simply because he frequently offends Trump and the right? Sometimes money speaks louder than principle.