The broadcast giant had been preempting the late-night program even after Disney returned it to the airwaves.

ABC affiliate group Sinclair is putting Jimmy Kimmel Live back on air after boycott

The broadcast giant had been preempting the late-night program even after Disney returned it to the airwaves.

By Jessica Wang

Jessica Wang

Jessica Wang is a staff writer at **. Her work has appeared in Bustle, Nylon, Cosmopolitan, and more.

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September 26, 2025 4:23 p.m. ET

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Jimmy Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'. Credit:

Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

Sinclair Broadcast Group, the owner of the largest group of ABC-affiliated TV stations in the U.S., is ending its preemption of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, which began in response to comments the comedian made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

*Jimmy Kimmel Live* will return Friday evening on Sinclair's stations after a week-and-a-half-long absence, the company announced.

"Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives," Sinclair said in a statement. "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."**

The broadcast giant added that it has proposed measures "to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue" during "ongoing and constructive discussions with ABC," including appointing a network-wide independent ombudsman.**

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"While ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures, and Sinclair respects their right to make those decisions under out network affiliate agreements, we believe such measures could strengthen trust and accountability," the company said.

ABC and Disney, its parent company, declined to comment to ** about Sinclair's remarks.

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ABC took *Jimmy Kimmel Live* off the air last week after Sinclair and another large TV station owner, Nexstar Media Group, said they would be preempting the program over remarks Kimmel made about Kirk's death in a Sept. 15 monologue. Brendan Carr, the FCC chair appointed by President Donald Trump, had also called for affiliate groups to push back against ABC and Disney.

The events set off a national debate about free speech, with some observers noting that Nextstar is attempting to acquire a rival media company, Tegna, in a $6.2 billion deal that would require government approval, and that Sinclair has lobbied for deregulation in the broadcast industry and is also exploring possible acquisitions.

In Sinclair's statement Friday, the company said its decision to preempt Kimmel's show was "independent of any government interaction or influence," adding that "free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations."

Disney returned Kimmel to the airwaves Tuesday after "thoughtful conversations," though Sinclair and Nextstar said they would continue preempting his show.

On his first show back, Kimmel addressed his controversial comments about Kirk, saying it was not his intention to "make light of a murder of a young man." He added, "Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both."

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