Sinclair preempts Jimmy Kimmel Live as ABC affiliates balk; Disney schedules return for Tuesday

Sinclair Broadcast Group said it will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its ABC-affiliated stations starting Tuesday, replacing the late-night program with local news in roughly 40 markets. The stance, announced by Sinclair vice chairman Jason Smith, follows ongoing discussions with ABC about the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability. Sinclair has maintained a policy from last week to keep the show off the air indefinitely while talks continue, and stated that discussions with ABC remain ongoing as both sides evaluate the show’s potential return. The biggest Sinclair-owned affiliate in the portfolio is WJLA in Washington, a market that would be especially influential in any nationwide return plan.

Disney, the parent company of ABC, said the show would return on Tuesday after what it described as thoughtful conversations with Kimmel. The network cited Kimmel’s suspension as a response to last week’s on-air remarks about a suspect in the death of a public figure associated with Turning Point USA, noting that the comments had been ill-timed and insensitive given the moment in the country. Disney added that the decision to bring the program back was made after discussions with Kimmel and without providing additional details. The development creates a split between network-level plans and affiliate responses, with Disney betting on a network-wide return even as several stations maintain their own reservations.

Kimmel’s suspension occurred last Wednesday, after he described what he called the MAGA movement’s portrayal of the suspect in the death of a prominent Turning Point USA founder as anything other than a member of that movement. The remarks drew swift criticism from some in political and media circles. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said he was considering an investigation of Kimmel and ABC over the comments, and he described an apology as a very reasonable, minimal step. In the hours that followed, more than a dozen ABC affiliates told the network and Disney they would not air the show until the remarks were addressed, prompting Disney and ABC executives to pull Kimmel’s program indefinitely pending discussions.

The dispute highlights how broadcast groups navigate political discourse and editorial responsibility in a highly polarized environment. Sinclair’s stance underscores the leverage that local affiliates hold over network programming, even as Disney signals a return to late-night airwaves. The affiliates’ decisions reflect broader tensions surrounding how comedians address politically charged events and figures in real-time, particularly when those events are tied to real-world tragedies and ongoing investigations.

The broader context includes the involvement of political actors and media coverage surrounding the case referenced by Kimmel. The incident has prompted discussions about accountability for on-air remarks and the degree to which networks and affiliates should police or moderate commentary in the immediate aftermath of national or regional crises. As the show moves toward a planned Tuesday return, observers will be watching whether affiliates lift their preemptions and whether any formal apology or donation—per requests echoed by Sinclair—will accompany Kimmel’s return to air.

What happens next remains unclear. While Disney indicated the show would resume, the fate of Kimmel’s late-night run in the affiliate market depends on ongoing negotiations with Sinclair and any conditions those stations may impose as prerequisites for broadcasting the program. In the meantime, viewers in major markets may continue to rely on alternative programming as the industry weighs the balance between provocative political satire and responsibility during sensitive moments.