Nexstar Media Group has announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to its ABC affiliates beginning Friday night, effectively making Kimmel’s show available once again nationwide.
“We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns,” the company said in a statement. “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.”
The decision by Nexstar, the parent company of KTLA and one of the nation’s largest broadcast ownership groups, came on the same day that Sinclair, another major broadcaster, announced that it was also ending its preemption of Kimmel.
Disney-owned ABC suspended the late-night host on Sept. 17, following threats of potential repercussions from the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr.
That Monday, Kimmel had taken aim at the president and his “MAGA gang” of supporters for their response to Charlie Kirk’s killing, which Kimmel said included “finger-pointing” and attempts to characterize the alleged shooter as “anything other than one of them.”
These remarks angered many supporters of Kirk — as well as Carr, who accused Kimmel of appearing to “directly mislead the American public” with his remarks about the man accused of the killing.
Ahead of Kimmel’s suspension, Carr warned that Disney and ABC’s local affiliates could face repercussions if the comedian was not punished. He later applauded Sinclair, as well as Nexstar, for their decisions to preempt the show.
As a result of their boycott, viewers in cities representing roughly a quarter of ABC’s local TV affiliates were left without the late-night program until Friday.
In its statement Friday, Nexstar said its decision to preempt Kimmel was made independently of any government influence.
“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,” its statement read. “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.”
Nexstar announced this past August that it had entered into an agreement to acquire rival broadcast company Tegna for $6.2 billion. This merger would require FCC approval.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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