The media group Nexstar Media Group in the United States stated on Tuesday (September 23) that they will not allow the ABC program “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to be broadcast on their ABC affiliated stations, but will instead air other programs. This decision comes after ABC’s parent company, Walt Disney Co., announced on Monday that they would resume airing the late-night talk show.
ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s program on September 17 due to inappropriate comments he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his attack. Just hours before the program was taken off the air, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr warned that local TV stations continuing to air Kimmel’s program could face fines or license revocations.
Nexstar Media Group owns and operates 32 local television stations affiliated with ABC and is currently seeking approval from the FCC to complete a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna Corporation.
Walt Disney Co. has not immediately commented on Nexstar Media’s decision.
Nexstar Media Group stated that they stand by their decision to preemptively suspend airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and will be “supervising it upon its return to ABC.” The largest television station operator in the U.S. operates ABC affiliate stations in media markets such as Salt Lake City, Utah, Nashville, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sinclair Broadcasting Group, another major television station operator in the U.S., also announced on Monday (September 22) that they do not intend to resume airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on their 38 ABC affiliate stations, including those in Washington D.C., Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.
Both Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group have refused to resume airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, meaning that nearly one-third of the approximately 240 ABC affiliate stations across the U.S. will temporarily not broadcast the program.
(Reference: Reuters)