Sinclair Resumes Airing 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' After Preemption

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will resume airing 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on its ABC affiliate stations starting Friday, following a three-day preemption. The decision comes after Disney's ABC network reinstated the late-night show earlier this week, ending a nearly week-long suspension.

Sinclair stated that its objective throughout this process has been to ensure programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience. The company emphasized its responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves community interests while honoring obligations to air national network content.

The preemption followed comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the alleged murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and reactions from President Donald Trump's supporters. These remarks led to temporary suspensions and preemptions by both Disney and major station owners like Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group.

During his return, Kimmel addressed the situation, noting that the show was still on the air in most of the country, except for certain areas where it had been preempted. He highlighted that after almost 23 years on the air, the program was suddenly not being broadcast in 20% of the country, a situation they did not relish.

Sinclair owns approximately 40 ABC affiliate stations across the United States, including one in Washington, D.C. Nexstar owns about 30 ABC affiliates in markets such as Salt Lake City and New Orleans.

Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue at ABC and its affiliates. While ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures, Sinclair respects their right to make those decisions under network affiliate agreements. The company believes such measures could strengthen trust and accountability.

The preemptions and suspensions have raised questions about media influence and First Amendment protections. Sinclair emphasized that its decision to preempt the program was independent of any government interaction or influence. The company stated that free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment regarding content on their local stations. While acknowledging that not everyone will agree with their programming decisions, Sinclair noted that it is inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.