Disney announced the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the ABC late-night lineup, but not everyone is on board. In a striking move, Sinclair Broadcast Group confirmed on Monday that its ABC affiliates will continue preempting Jimmy Kimmel and replacing his show with news programming — directly defying Disney’s reinstatement.
The announcement came just hours after Disney and ABC signaled that Kimmel would be back on the air Tuesday, September 23rd. Yet Sinclair’s decision clearly demonstrates the ongoing battle between network brass in Burbank and the local station owners who actually deliver programming into American homes.
The Controversy That Sparked the Standoff
The turmoil began earlier this month when Kimmel made remarks in the aftermath of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel spread misinformation about the alleged killer, insinuating that he was a conservative supporter of President Trump, when in fact it had already been revealed that he was anything but.
Jimmy Kimmel reading tweets from President Trump at The Oscars – YouTube, New York Post
ABC initially suspended the show following affiliate pressure and concerns about FCC scrutiny.
While Disney’s leadership chose to bring the late-night host back, affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair had already made clear they were unwilling to simply follow orders.
Nexstar announced on September 17th that its ABC affiliates would indefinitely pull the plug on Kimmel’s show, replacing it with alternative programming. Sinclair echoed that stance, insisting the late-night comedian owed a direct apology to the Kirk family and a financial contribution made to Kirk’s widow and TurningPoint USA.
They were demanding accountability from ABC before allowing the show back on their airwaves.
Sinclair’s Statement
On September 22nd, Sinclair posted an official statement across social media.
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 22, 2025
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” they said. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
In other words, Disney may want Kimmel back, but the affiliates aren’t playing ball just yet.
Why Affiliates Matter
This is a fundamental clash of power in the television industry. While ABC controls the brand and the talent, it’s the affiliates that hold FCC broadcast licenses and ultimately decide what airs in their markets.
Bob Iger via New York Times Events YouTube
That’s why the FCC’s interest in Kimmel’s remarks became such a major factor. Commissioner Brendan Carr hinted that stations could be scrutinized for carrying offensive content — a threat these affiliates couldn’t ignore.
The reality is simple: Disney cannot force its affiliates to carry Jimmy Kimmel Live! if they believe it poses a liability. That tension is playing out right now.
The Nexstar Factor
So far, there’s been no public reversal from Nexstar. The company’s last statement declared the show preempted “indefinitely,” and with Sinclair doubling down, it looks increasingly likely that large swaths of the country will not see Jimmy Kimmel return on ABC Tuesday night.
Bob Iger via CNBC Television YouTube
That leaves Disney in a bind. Either the company negotiates concessions with affiliates — potentially throwing Kimmel under the bus again — or it risks having one of its flagship late-night programs blacked out across major markets.
The Bigger Picture
This controversy highlights two crucial realities:
- Affiliate Power: In a streaming-obsessed era, the public often forgets that ABC, NBC, and CBS don’t own every station. Local affiliates do — and they can push back hard when a show becomes too toxic.
- The Collapse of Late-Night: Even before this, late-night TV was on life support. Ratings have collapsed, with younger viewers abandoning the format and older viewers tired of partisan comedy. Kimmel’s troubles only accelerated a trend already visible with Colbert, Fallon, and even Saturday Night Live.
Disney says Jimmy Kimmel is back, but Sinclair says he isn’t. Nexstar is still holding the line as of this writing.
Mark Ruffalo being interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel – Youtube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
For viewers across the country, the end result is confusion, missed broadcasts, and a glaring reminder that corporate politics, FCC scrutiny, and local affiliate power may matter more than anything said at the Disney headquarters in Burbank.
The showdown isn’t over — and for Kimmel, this return may prove more symbolic than real.
Are you surprised that Sinclair is holding the line against Jimmy Kimmel in defiance of Disney? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
And ABC is stuck with this decision. If they try to bail a couple months from now, it’ll get the same response. However, don’t expect the viewership to increase.
Good. Hopefully we see an increase in this sort of thing, where affiliates aren’t bound to broadcast whatever filth and propaganda their networks tell them. I’d love to see NBC get absolutely wrecked like this too, since they’ve been pushing subversion and degeneracy for far longer than Disney and ABC.