Nexstar says it will continue to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after it returns to ABC
Nexstar Media announced on Tuesday that it will continue to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its television stations when the late-night show returns tonight after a nearly week-long hiatus on ABC. This decision follows a similar move by Sinclair, another local TV station owner, who also stated they would preempt the show on their ABC-affiliated stations.
Last week, ABC had indefinitely preempted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after comments made by Kimmel in response to the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. As a result, the show will not be airing tonight on dozens of ABC stations across the U.S., including those owned by Nexstar and Sinclair. Together, these two corporations control about a quarter of ABC affiliates, with Nexstar operating 33 ABC affiliates and Sinclair running 38.
In addition to their decision regarding “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, Nexstar has a pending $6.2 billion deal to acquire Tegna, a smaller rival. This acquisition is awaiting approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Last week, a Nexstar spokesperson stated that the decision to preempt the show was made unilaterally by the senior executive team at Nexstar without prior communication with the FCC or any government agency.
Nexstar reiterated their stance on the decision to preempt the show, stating that they are committed to fostering an environment of respectful and constructive dialogue in the markets they serve. They also noted that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will still be available nationwide on Disney-owned streaming platforms, while their stations will focus on producing local news and relevant programming.
Scheduled guests for Kimmel’s show tonight include actor Glen Powell and singer Sarah McLachlan. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, covering business and personal finance. With previous experience at Bloomberg News and contributions to national news outlets like USA Today and Consumer Reports, she brings a wealth of expertise to her reporting.
