Nexstar Media Group said Tuesday that the ABC stations it owns and partners with will not resume airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” even as Disney brings the program back nationally.
“We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse,” the company said in a news release. “We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
The statement comes after a week of tumult for Disney and its ABC network. Last week, Disney pulled Kimmel’s late-night show from its line-up “indefinitely” after Kimmel criticized Republicans for how they were responding to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s killing.
“The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said during his Sept. 15 show.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr subsequently threatened to “take action” against Disney and ABC over Kimmel’s remarks. But Disney’s decision to pull Kimmel drew criticism from celebrities, as well as consumers. Some protested it, and others announced their decision to boycott Disney.
By Monday, Disney announced that Kimmel would return on Tuesday. But station owners Nexstar and Sinclair have stood their ground on pre-empting the show on their ABC affiliates.
The show “will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets,” Nexstar said Tuesday.
Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with fellow station owner Tegna.
Sinclair had said its stations would “air a special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk” in place of Kimmel’s show on Friday and “will not lift the suspension” of the program “until formal discussions are held with ABC.” On Monday, the company said that it would continue pre-empting the program on its ABC stations.
Sinclair is currently exploring merger options for its broadcast business, which would also require FCC clearance, CNBC reported.
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