Local TV stations refuse to air Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show after ABC lifts suspension
Local TV station groups Nexstar and Sinclair, which together run over a dozen of stations affiliated to ABC, have clearly stated that they would continue to replace Kimmel's time slot with other programs.
September 24, 2025 06:09 AM IST
First published on: Sep 24, 2025 at 06:07 AM IST
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ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made about Charlie Kirk. (Photo: AP)
American television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel is all set to return with his show Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Disney-owned ABC network on Monday said it was ready to restore the show on air after being suspended for about a week over Kimmel’s on-air remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin that triggered the ire of the Trump administration.
Kimmel is expected to address the comments he made last week about Charlie Kirk’s killer that caused resentment in some viewers, triggered threats of federal regulatory action by the Federal Communications Commission and the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show now faces a boycott by two local television groups.
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x
Local TV station groups Nexstar and Sinclair, which together run over a dozen of stations affiliated to ABC, have clearly stated that they would continue to replace Kimmel’s time slot with other programming on their network affiliate stations, which reach about 23% of US households, Reuters reported.
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Sinclair’s vice-chairman Jason Smith in a statement said, “Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” BBC reported.
One of the biggest owners of TV stations in the US, Nexstar, said “We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse.”
Nexstar added, “We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live! show is set to return on Tuesday, September 23 at 11:35pm ET, around 9am on Wednesday, September 24 as per Indian Standard Time. The Jimmy Kimmel show generally airs on ABC but all the affiliates associated with Nexstar and Sinclair won’t air the September 23 episode.
Other ways to watch ABC is through these platforms:
DirecTV Fubo Sling Hulu + Live TV
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! Clips are posted to the show’s YouTube page and the episodes are available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
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ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made about Charlie Kirk. (Photo: AP) 
