Nexstar Denies Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Was Due to FCC Pressure
Nexstar, the largest station owner in the country, has denied allegations that they removed “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from their lineup in response to pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. The decision came shortly after Carr threatened action against ABC affiliates over comments made by Kimmel regarding Charlie Kirk’s killer. However, Nexstar’s chief communications officer, Gary Weitman, stated that the decision to preempt the show was made independently by Nexstar’s senior executive team, with no influence from the FCC or any government agency.
It is worth noting that Nexstar is currently seeking FCC approval for the acquisition of Tegna, the fourth-largest broadcaster in the nation. This acquisition would require the lifting of the station ownership cap, which limits broadcasters to reaching no more than 39% of the national audience. Weitman also clarified that the decision regarding Kimmel’s show was not impacted by the pending merger.
The controversy surrounding Kimmel’s show began after his monologue on Monday, where he made comments about the political implications of Charlie Kirk’s death. Conservatives accused Kimmel of unfairly blaming the MAGA movement for the incident, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. In response, ABC suspended Kimmel’s show indefinitely, following announcements from Nexstar and Sinclair that they would not be broadcasting it.
FCC Chairman Carr criticized Kimmel’s comments as “sick” and hinted at potential actions against licensees if Disney, ABC’s parent company, did not address the situation. Legal experts have raised concerns about the potential infringement on free speech rights, with some suggesting that Carr’s actions may have crossed a line.
Despite the controversy, Nexstar’s president of broadcasting, Andrew Alford, stated that the decision to pull Kimmel’s show was made to allow for “cooler heads to prevail.” Sinclair, on the other hand, called for an apology from Kimmel to Kirk’s family and a donation to Turning Point USA before considering resuming the show.
Overall, the actions taken by station groups in response to Kimmel’s comments have sparked debate about the balance between free speech and corporate interests within the broadcasting industry. The situation highlights the complex dynamics at play between national networks, local affiliates, and regulatory bodies like the FCC. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact future programming decisions and the relationship between broadcasters and the government.
