Nexstar Media Group said Friday that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to its ABC affiliates tonight, ending a blackout that began last week that triggered a standoff with Disney.
The announcement comes just hours after Sinclair Broadcast Group also agreed to reinstate the late-night program across its own ABC stations, reversing a week-long refusal to air the show even after ABC parent Disney lifted host Jimmy Kimmel’s four-day suspension.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to Nexstar’s 30 ABC stations and Sinclair’s roughly 40 affiliates, restoring full national coverage of the program.
Nexstar Media Group announced “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to its ABC affiliates tonight.
Trump, who blasted Kimmel’s reinstatement earlier this week, lashed out again earlier this week on Truth Social, writing: “Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad ratings.”
Both broadcasters had pulled the plug on Kimmel following his controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer and President Trump’s supporters.
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- Nexstar lifts ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ blackout, hours after rival Sinclair brought show back to air
- Sinclair’s ABC stations will end their preemption of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and put it back on air tonight
- Here’s where Bob Iger’s Jimmy Kimmel standoff with Nexstar, Sinclair is headed — and why nobody is joking
Sinclair had demanded an on-air apology and donation to Turning Point USA before relenting.
A source familiar with the situation told The Post that Disney made no editorial or content concessions to Sinclair.
“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” Sinclair said in a statement.
The company, which owns about 40 ABC affiliates nationwide including in Washington, DC, cited viewer and advertiser feedback, as well as “troubling acts of violence,” including a recent shooting at an ABC station in Sacramento, as reasons for reassessing its stance.
The blackout started last week, which triggered an intense standoff with Disney. Timon – stock.adobe.comThe Post has sought comment from Disney.
Media insiders told The Post earlier this week that they expected the impasse to be resolved given Disney’s considerable leverage over Sinclair and Nexstar.
Sources with knowledge of the situation told The Post that Disney CEO Bob Iger would insist that Nexstar and Sinclair adhere to their respective affiliate agreements with ABC, which spell out precise conditions under which the broadcasters can refuse to air network programming.
The announcement comes hours after Sinclair Broadcast Group said it will air the late-night show on its own ABC affiliate stations. ABC/AFP via Getty ImagesInsiders said that Iger could even go so far as to withhold programming like ratings juggernaut “Monday Night Football” to force the two affiliate owners to comply.
“This is coming to an end — sooner rather than later,” said one veteran media executive with knowledge of the matter.
“Iger knows the advertising pressure he’s going to face if Nexstar and Sinclair don’t bring back Kimmel, which means he will pull out all the stops to get Kimmel back on air.”
