Disney pressure could end Jimmy Kimmel stand-off as Nexstar, Sinclair face affiliate backlash

A standoff over Jimmy Kimmel Live! between Disney and two of the country’s largest ABC affiliates appears poised to enter a resolution window within days, according to people familiar with the matter. The late-night program has been suspended across multiple Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group stations after host Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk drew widespread criticism. Disney, which owns ABC, is pressing its affiliates to bring Kimmel back on the air, these sources said, arguing that ongoing suspensions could undermine the networks’ reach and advertising economics.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has ample leverage to enforce reinstatement under the companies’ network affiliation agreements. Those contracts govern the fee schedules that local stations pay to carry network programming and set conditions under which a show can be canceled or withheld. People familiar with the matter said Iger intends to use that leverage to pressure Nexstar and Sinclair to lift the suspensions and return Kimmel to their schedules. The two groups own and operate about two-thirds of ABC’s affiliated stations, spanning 38 states and reaching roughly 66 outlets, according to industry trackers. The central question, insiders say, is whether the affiliates will concede when faced with potential reductions in national ad revenue and the possibility of more forceful action from Disney.

The discussions are taking place as the industry weighs the leverage embedded in affiliate agreements. These contracts include what is commonly described as a “right to reject” clause that can allow local stations to delay or drop network programming if terms are not met. The 2018 Roseanne incident, in which affiliates refused to air the show after controversial remarks by Roseanne Barr, is frequently cited as a precedent for how disputes can unfold in local markets. While the Roseanne episode was resolved within a broader entertainment controversy, the current dispute centers on how far affiliates can go in curtailing network programming when host content becomes politically charged.

Some observers note that the potential consequences extend beyond the immediate suspension. If Nexstar and Sinclair keep Kimmel off the air, national advertisers could demand rebates or lower rates, increasing pressure on Disney and complicating the networks’ revenue mix. The strength of ABC’s affiliate network means advertiser demand is highly sensitive to what stations can or cannot carry, and any sustained blackout increases the risk that brands reallocate dollars to alternatives. Still, the companies involved have not publicly commented on the negotiations, and representatives for Disney, Sinclair and Nexstar did not respond to requests for comment.

The dispute also touches regulatory and deal-making dynamics beyond the studios’ control. Nexstar and Sinclair are both active acquirers and, in Nexstar’s case, an acquirer of Tegna in a deal subject to federal review. Trump-era FCC Chair Brendan Carr has publicly signaled that regulators could scrutinize local-broadcast deals tied to content, including actions related to misinformation or false commentary. The department’s posture matters because a prolonged standoff could prompt absorbed political and regulatory attention, potentially affecting future acquisitions and licensing alignments. In that climate, Disney’s playbook could include broader strategic moves, such as withholding other popular programming like Monday Night Football on ABC or its ESPN networks, should the negotiation deadlock continue. sources familiar with internal deliberations say the company is prepared to use all tools within its contracts and regulatory reach to advance its objective of returning Kimmel to air.

Meanwhile, Iger faces growing pressure from advertisers and shareholders to resolve the standoff quickly. The networks’ reach is substantial: ABC affiliates collectively provide a large audience base across mid-sized and smaller markets, which is valuable for national advertisers seeking broad, scalable reach. By reinserting Kimmel, Disney would protect the program’s audience metrics and the advertising units that rely on stable viewership; Kimmel’s average night audience has hovered around 1.4 million viewers, with a notable spike when he returns to air amid controversy, sometimes exceeding several million viewers on special episodes. The re-airing of Kimmel on resumed nights could also help preserve the program’s negotiating position for future seasons and tie-ins, including sponsorship and cross-promotion opportunities across Disney’s broader media ecosystem. Still, some market observers caution that any decision to re-air the show must be accompanied by a careful handling of content, given the polarizing nature of political humor and the per-person impact on local trust in stations.

In Seattle, protesters gathered outside KOMO-TV, a Sinclair-owned ABC affiliate, in the wake of the suspension, underscoring the political and public-relations dimensions of the dispute. The demonstrations reflect how quickly local communities respond when national programming is disrupted, and they highlight the pressure stations face from both local viewers and national advertisers. The broader industry will be watching whether the standoff resolves in a manner that preserves a consistent national lineup while acknowledging the concerns of local markets. As the standoff continues to unfold, observers expect Iger to push aggressively to preserve Disney’s programming commitments and the advertising revenue associated with Kimmel, while Nexstar and Sinclair weigh the potential long-term implications of partial or full reinstatement versus ongoing contractual friction. The situation remains dynamic, with no public statement yet from the companies involved.

If Disney prevails, the pattern could set a precedent about the limits of affiliate autonomy in matters related to national content and the degree to which local stations can influence a network’s programming slate. For Iger, a successful reinstitution of Kimmel would not only restore a revenue-rich property but also signal a willingness to lean on contractual tools and regulatory avenues to defend a flagship program against market pressures. For Nexstar and Sinclair, a rapid resolution would minimize the risk of lasting revenue disruption and protect the broader value of their ABC affiliations as part of their strategic growth agendas. As the negotiations move toward a resolution, observers will be watching how the deal unfolds in the coming days and whether any adjustments to affiliate terms or new agreements emerge in the wake of renewed Kimmel broadcasts.