Sinclair preempts Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC affiliates as Disney relaunches show

Sinclair Broadcast Group said Monday it will preempt 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on its ABC-affiliated stations as Disney brings the late-night show back to the network, a move that could affect millions of households during the program's relaunch. In a post on X, Sinclair said: 'Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming' as it continues negotiations with ABC. The company controls the largest share of ABC-affiliate stations in the United States, a factor that could influence how the program is carried in major markets nationwide.

The move comes as Disney decided to bring back the late-night program on Tuesday after temporarily suspending it last week following Kimmel's remarks about Charlie Kirk's alleged killer being part of the 'MAGA gang.' Disney said it suspended Kimmel last Wednesday 'to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,' calling some of his comments ill-timed and insensitive. The group said discussions with ABC are ongoing as it evaluates the show's potential return. The decision by Sinclair reflects a broader negotiation climate between the network and its regional affiliates as ABC attempts to preserve the show’s national footprint while stations reassess local scheduling in response to audience and advertiser concerns.

According to people familiar with the matter, Kimmel is expected to address the controversy in a monologue when the show returns on Tuesday, but he is not anticipated to offer a formal on-air apology for the remarks about Kirk and the alleged killer. The show, which pays the host about $15 million per year, remains a target of debate among local affiliates and conservative groups who have urged stronger concessions or alternative programming in place of the broadcast.

Disney's decision to suspend Kimmel and the subsequent reintroduction of the program have heightened tensions between the media conglomerate and some ABC affiliates. In a separate statement issued after the axing, Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith said: 'Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country.' Sinclair had previously pressed Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family and to donate to Turning Point USA, the conservative nonprofit co-founded by Kirk. The company reiterated that it was evaluating the show's return as part of broader negotiations with ABC.

It is not yet clear whether Nexstar, which operates 32 ABC affiliates, will follow Sinclair's lead and preempt the program. Together, Sinclair and Nexstar affiliates account for about a quarter of ABC’s reach to U.S. households, a factor Deadline has noted as central to the network’s distribution strategy. The two groups’ actions could influence viewers in several major markets, including Washington, D.C., where Sinclair owns ABC affiliate WJLA-TV, a influential flagship station for the network.

The broader industry context is that affiliate-led preemption of network programming has become a focal point of ongoing distribution negotiations. Disney has framed the Kimmel return as part of a broader strategy to re-establish the network’s late-night lineup while balancing local-market sensitivities. With Sinclair opting to swap in news programming at many of its ABC stations, viewers in those markets may see a temporary shift in scheduling, with potential implications for ratings, local-news pacing, and advertiser alignment as the two sides continue talks about the show’s ultimate placement across the network.

As the Tuesday relaunch approaches, media observers will be watching whether Nexstar also limits 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on its ABC affiliates or allows the program to air with local interruptions. The coming days should clarify how the network-compatible plan will coexist with station-specific programming strategies and what that means for ABC's national reach in the near term.