Jimmy Kimmel is back in the whole country

Beginning tonight, Nexstar Media Group will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its 24 ABC affiliates, thereby concluding a preemption of the program due to a remark made by the host regarding the passing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The decision, which was disclosed on Friday afternoon, was made in response to a similar decision made by Sinclair earlier in the day. Approximately one-quarter of ABC's total footprint was left without access to Kimmel between the two station divisions. ABC also suspended his program for five days in response to the controversy that emanated from the jest that was discarded during Kimmel's monologue on September 17.

“We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns,” Nexstar wrote this afternoon confirming it was returning the show to the air on its 24 stations.

“As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment while producing and airing local and national news that is fact-based and unbiased and, above all, broadcasting content that is in the best interest of the communities we serve,” it added. “We stand apart from cable television, monolithic streaming services, and national networks in our commitment – and obligation – to be stewards of the public airwaves and to protect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities. To be clear, our commitment to those principles has guided our decisions throughout this process, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals.”

Washington, D.C., Seattle, St. Louis, Nashville, and Portland, OR are among the significant markets that have welcomed Kimmel back.

Hours after FCC chairman Brendan Carr publicly threatened retaliation against Disney in a podcast and proceeded to attack the company on social media, Kimmel was benched. Before, during, and after his suspension, President Trump has repeatedly harassed Kimmel. He most recently stated that he was prepared to take legal action against ABC and Disney for alleged violations of campaign finance laws, which were related to Kimmel's appearance on the show.

The program was reinstated by ABC at the beginning of this week, following days of suspense and a broader societal discourse on government regulation of the media and freedom of speech in the Trump era. Even without the Sinclair and Nexstar affiliates, the initial night of its return on Tuesday attracted over six million viewers, which is nearly four times its average audience.

It was improbable that the alternative, locally produced programming that was intended to replace Kimmel's show would attract a portion of the typical broadcast audience. Sinclair initially announced its intention to air a special featuring Kirk; however, it ultimately relocated the program to its website and refrained from broadcasting it on its stations.

In terms of advertising revenue, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is not insignificant. As of the date of suspension, the program had generated approximately $70 million in revenue in 2025. Despite the fact that stations are granted access to a mere portion of the ad inventory on the program, it remains valuable real estate for the small and medium-sized businesses that are the lifeblood of local TV.

Sinclair's statement earlier in the day asserted that its decision to preempt the program was "independent of any government interaction or influence," a stance that Nexstar has also taken. Both organizations have a financial incentive to maintain favorable relationships with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and President Trump. Nexstar has proposed the acquisition of Tegna, a competitor, in a $6.2 billion transaction that would exceed the current restrictions on TV station ownership. Government approval will also be necessary for Disney's own M&A activities, which include the sale of 10% of ESPN to the NFL.

On Tuesday, Disney reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the ABC broadcast network. Kimmel's introductory monologue, which addressed the controversy, garnered the second-highest number of viewers in the late-night show's history.