Sinclair and Nexstar are letting Jimmy Kimmel back on their airwaves. The companies announced separately on Friday that they'll let the ABC affiliates they own resume airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! starting Friday, reports CNBC. The moves come days after Disney, which owns ABC, lifted its own suspension over Kimmel's comments on the Charlie Kirk murder. The Disney decision got Kimmel's show back on most stations, but not the 70 or so owned by Sinclair and Nexstar.
"Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence," Sinclair said Friday. "Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations." The company had said last week it would not bring Kimmel back unless he explicitly apologized to Kirk's family, notes the New York Times. Kimmel did not apologize, but he made clear he never intended to make light of the murder.
Nexstar issued a statement on Friday saying, "We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns." Disney made no comment on Friday. "The relationship with Disney is far too important for these firms to risk," said Matthew Dolgin, a senior equity analyst, per the AP. He added: "Disney would've been free to take its affiliate agreements elsewhere in 2026 if these relationships were too difficult. That scenario would be devastating to Nexstar and Sinclair." Friday's episode is scheduled to be a rerun of Tuesday's, per ABC.
This file has been updated with Nexstar's announcement.
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