Sinclair-ABC affiliates preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! in dozens of markets, replacing with news programming
Sinclair says the move affects dozens of ABC affiliates as discussions with ABC continue over Kimmel’s potential return, expanding a broader standoff involving Disney and Nexstar.
Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that its ABC-affiliated stations will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! beginning Tuesday, replacing the late-night show with news programming. In a post on X on Monday, the company said, “Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” and added that “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
The decision affects dozens of markets in which Sinclair operates ABC affiliates, including WJLA in Washington, D.C.; KOMO in Seattle; KDNL in St. Louis; KATU in Portland, Oregon; and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Other major markets cited by Sinclair include WSYX in Columbus, Ohio; WBMA in Birmingham, Alabama; and KATV in Little Rock–Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Sinclair controls more than 180 stations nationwide, with 41 ABC affiliates, making it the largest owner of ABC station groups.
Jimmy Kimmel, who earns about $15 million annually, was slated to return after Disney suspended him last week over remarks tying conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer to the “MAGA gang.” His absence drew protests outside ABC-owned stations and calls to boycott Disney. Disney said it pulled the host “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” calling his remarks “ill-timed and thus insensitive.” Kimmel is expected to address the controversy in Tuesday’s monologue but is not expected to issue a formal apology in advance.
Sinclair previously pressed for a direct apology to the Kirk family and a donation to Turning Point USA, the conservative youth-group co-founded by Kirk. Disney’s decision to sideline Kimmel and the ensuing backlash intensified a public standoff between the media companies, drawing attention from advertisers and regulators alike.
Nexstar, which operates 32 ABC affiliates, has not yet decided whether to follow Sinclair’s lead. Together, Sinclair and Nexstar represent nearly a quarter of ABC’s total household reach, raising the possibility that sizable portions of the country could be without Kimmel’s broadcast this week.
The dispute has drawn scrutiny from regulators and advertisers. Former Disney chief Michael Eisner criticized the suspension as yielding to “out-of-control intimidation” from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who warned Disney it could face regulatory consequences if it did not act. Sinclair has also cited regulatory risk in its public statements, while pressuring Kimmel to apologize to Kirk’s family and donate to Turning Point USA. YouTube’s National Desk has reported on the broader implications of the standoff, and ABC’s parent company, Disney, has faced calls to respond from lawmakers and observers.
Nexstar and Sinclair did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday, and a representative for ABC did not immediately provide additional details on the temporary programming changes. The network and the affiliates involved have emphasized that the moves are part of ongoing negotiations over Kimmel’s future on the air.
The abrupt scheduling shifts highlight how ownership structures and advertiser pressures can influence late-night programming in real time, particularly in a period marked by heightened political sentiment. As the situation unfolds, viewers in affected markets may see a shift from entertainment to news programming during what would typically be a flagship late-night slot. The effect on local ratings, advertising revenue, and the broader strategy of network-affiliate partnerships will be watched closely by media observers in the coming days.