WXLV’s parent company, which serves the Triad, has lifted its boycott of the ABC network show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” effective Friday.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, the nation’s largest ABC affiliate group at 38 stations and a conservative-learning media group, said Friday that “while we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.”
Sinclair said its decision was based in part on feedback from viewers, advertisers and community leaders.
The fluidity of the Sinclair and Nexstar preemptions and the ABC decision to suspend — and then lift the suspension — has liberal and conservative groups calling for a national boycott of Disney and ABC.
“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” Sinclair said.
“We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming.
“We look forward to continuing to work with ABC to deliver content that serves a broad spectrum of our communities.”
Kimmel said during his monologue Thursday that “even though we are still being preempted in 60 American cities, on Tuesday, we had our second-highest rated show in almost 23 years on the air.”
“Our monologue from Tuesday night has more than 21 million views just on YouTube alone. And I want to say, we couldn’t have done it without you, Mr. President. Thank you very much. We got the Trump bump, and we appreciate it.”
Sinclair actions
Sinclair said Sept. 17 it had indefinitely preempted the show.
Even after ABC ended its suspension of Kimmel on Tuesday, Sinclair said its stations would air news programming in the Kimmel time slot.
That left Triad viewers the option of streaming the late-night show the next morning on ABC.com, the ABC app and through Disney-owned streaming service Hulu.
Sinclair vice chairman Jason Smith said in a Sept. 17 statement that Kimmel’s remarks “were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country. We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities.
“Regardless of ABC’s plans for the future of the program, Sinclair intends not to return ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ to our air until we are confident that appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform.”
According to Sinclair, those steps include formal discussions with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability.
Sinclair called upon Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family. “Furthermore, we ask Mr. Kimmel to make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA,” Sinclair said.
Sinclair said in Friday’s statement that ABC did not accept any of its proposals, such as hiring a “network-wide independent ombudsman.”
Nexstar next?
As of Friday, Nexstar has not lifted its 32-station boycott of Kimmel’s show.
On Tuesday, Nexstar posted that it “stands by that decision” to preempt the show “pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
“Our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.”
On Wednesday, USA Today quoted Nexstar as saying, “We are engaged in productive discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company, with a focus on ensuring the program reflects and respects the diverse interests of the communities we serve.”
Turning Point USA, founded by Kirk, has not made a social media post on Sinclair’s decision as of 3 p.m. Friday.
The group posted about Kimmel’s reinstatement on Tuesday on X, saying “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make.”
“Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.”
rcraver@wsjournal.com
336-727-7376
@rcraverWSJ
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