Nexstar and Sinclair Continue to Pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live!
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Even as Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to the airwaves Tuesday night, station owner Nexstar stated on Wednesday that they would continue to keep the show out of their programming.
Nexstar’s Statement and Ongoing Evaluation
“Nexstar is continuing to evaluate the status of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on our ABC-affiliated local television stations, and the show will be pre-empted while we do so,” the statement read.
“We are engaged in productive discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company, with a focus on ensuring the program reflects and respects the diverse interests of the communities we serve.”
Extent of the Pre-emptions
Both Nexstar, which owns and operates 32 ABC affiliate stations, and broadcast group Sinclair have pre-empted Jimmy Kimmel Live! as last week. The two station owners represent approximately 25 percent of all affiliates, and had stopped airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! in reaction to Kimmel’s comments last week following the death of Charlie Kirk.
Context: Kimmel’s Comments and the Controversy
“We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and with everything they can, to score political points from it,” Kimmel stated last week. This comment sparked the backlash from Nexstar and Sinclair.
Understanding Affiliate Pre-emptions
Television affiliates are locally owned stations that have agreements with major networks (like ABC, NBC, CBS) to broadcast their programming. Affiliates have some autonomy in scheduling and can choose to pre-empt network shows for various reasons, including local news coverage, special events, or, as in this case, disagreement with content. Pre-emptions are a demonstration of the affiliate’s power within the broadcasting system and their responsiveness to their local audience.
looking Ahead
The situation remains fluid as Nexstar continues its evaluation and discussions with disney. The outcome will likely set a precedent for how affiliates respond to possibly controversial commentary from late-night hosts and could influence future programming decisions. The dispute highlights the tension between national network programming and the desire of local broadcasters to cater to their specific communities.