By Abhishek Tiwari

Copyright republicworld

New York: Jimmy Kimmel thanked Donald Trump, sarcastically crediting the US President for his show’s recent surge in ratings amidst controversy. The ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ host made the statement during his Thursday monologue, where he revealed that his show’s return episode averaged 6.26 million viewers, three times greater than his average episode. The show’s monologue on YouTube has garnered over 21.7 million views, and Kimmel quipped that Trump was partly responsible for the boost.”We couldn’t have done it without you, Mr. President. Thank you very much,” Kimmel joked, acknowledging Trump’s role in drawing attention to his show. The comment was a tongue-in-cheek reference to Trump’s previous celebration of Kimmel’s temporary suspension from ABC.The controversy began when Kimmel made comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing during a monologue, which led to ABC pulling the show off the air. However, after a brief suspension, Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to ABC, with Disney stating that the show’s return followed thoughtful conversations with Jimmy. Despite the show’s return, it remains preempted by Sinclair and Nexstar in their local markets.Kimmel’s monologue also touched on his show’s upcoming move to Brooklyn, where they will air from the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The host joked that they were on the move, so the FCC couldn’t get them, pointing at the ongoing tensions between Kimmel and the FCC.On the other hand, Trump has been vocal about his dislike for Kimmel, first celebrating the move to pull him off the air and then threatening to test ABC amid his return. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.” Kimmel responded to Trump’s comments, saying, “Well, I do tonight,” in reference to his show’s ratings.Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show is returning to Sinclair Broadcast Group’s ABC affiliate stations on Friday nights, lifting a recent blackout that affected numerous US cities. Sinclair, which operates 38 ABC affiliates, stated that their commitment is to provide programming that resonates with local audiences while fulfilling network obligations.The company had previously withheld Kimmel’s show due to controversy surrounding his comments on conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death. Disney-owned ABC had suspended Kimmel on September 17 following pressure from the Trump-appointed FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, who threatened possible repercussions. Nexstar, another major affiliate group, had also chosen to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ before ABC’s decision, with both Sinclair and Nexstar criticizing Kimmel’s remarks.Sinclair and Nexstar’s actions are likely driven by business incentives to appease the Trump administration, given their need for FCC approval for mergers. Sinclair requires FCC approval for a proposed merger, and both companies have a big influence over local broadcasting, controlling 66 ABC stations across the US. This enables them to shape information and entertainment for tens of millions of Americans.As a result, Kimmel’s show will still be unavailable in around 66 markets served by Sinclair and Nexstar-controlled ABC affiliates, including cities like Tulsa, Rochester, and Columbus. Despite ABC airing the show nationally, these local affiliates have chosen to preempt it.