Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group declared on Friday that they will conclude their preemption of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* on their ABC affiliate stations. The late-night program will be back on all ABC stations Friday night.
This decision comes just three days after Kimmel’s return to ABC, following a nearly week-long hiatus imposed by ABC and Disney. The suspension was prompted by Republican backlash over Kimmel’s remarks regarding the killer of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, leading Sinclair and Nexstar to interrupt his show on their ABC affiliates. Kimmel responded to these remarks in his return monologue.
Disney reversed its earlier decision following widespread criticism of Kimmel’s suspension, including calls to boycott Disney+ and Hulu. Nevertheless, when Kimmel returned to screens on Sept. 23, Sinclair and Nexstar still had *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* preempted, meaning that the ABC affiliates they operate — which account for over 25% of the nation’s ABC affiliates, according to Reuters — would not air the show.
Now, with the announcements from Sinclair and Nexstar, all these ABC affiliate stations will once again be airing *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*.
Sinclair was the first of the two companies to announce Kimmel’s return. In a statement issued on Friday regarding their choice, Sinclair stated, “Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives. We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important.”
Sinclair’s statement continued by addressing the company’s discussions with ABC, indicating that it had “proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman.”
The statement also commented on criticisms of Kimmel’s preemption being viewed as a politically motivated infringement of free speech. According to Sinclair, “Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence. Free speech grants broadcasters the right to exercise judgment concerning the content on their local stations. While we acknowledge that not everyone will concur with our programming decisions, it is simply inconsistent to advocate for free speech while insisting that broadcasters present specific content.”
Hours later, Nexstar revealed that it too had reversed its preemption of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*
“We have engaged in discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns,” Nexstar stated. “As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains dedicated to upholding the First Amendment while delivering local and national news that is factual and unbiased, and, most importantly, broadcasting content that serves the best interests of the communities we represent. We differentiate ourselves from cable television, monolithic streaming services, and national networks in our commitment — and obligation — to be stewards of the public airwaves and to reflect and protect the specific sensibilities of our communities. To be clear, our commitment to these principles has guided our decisions throughout this process, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals.”
*UPDATE: Sep. 26, 2025, 5:18 p.m. EDT* This article has been revised to incorporate Nexstar’s announcement regarding the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”