A TV station that serves Winston-Salem and Greensboro will not air the ABC network show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday or in the immediate future.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, the nation’s largest ABC affiliate group and owner of WXLV, said in a Sept. 17 statement it will indefinitely preempt the show.
Sinclair could not be immediately reached for comment on whether it will allow individual stations to decide whether to air the show. A Monday posting on X, formerly Twitter, said Sinclair stations will air news programming in the Kimmel time slot.
Triad viewers willing to wait can stream the late-night show the next morning on ABC.com, the ABC app and through Disney-owned streaming service Hulu.
Clips and highlights of the show will also be available on the official Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel.
ABC is lifting its suspension of Kimmel’s show following intense criticism from primarily right-wing and conservative individuals and groups — in particular, President Donald Trump — over his comments about the Sept. 10 shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” ABC said in a statement.
Turning Point USA, founded by Kirk, posted about Kimmel’s reinstatement on X.
“Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make,” Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet wrote.
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“Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.”
Nexstar did not immediately comment on its plans for Kimmel’s return to its ABC-affiliated stations.
“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” Sinclair vice chairman Jason Smith said. “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 also calls upon Mr. 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.”
The fluidity of the Sinclair preemption and the ABC decision to suspend and then lift the suspension has both liberal and conservative groups calling for a national boycott of Disney and ABC.
For example, a YouTube video from Daily Mindbrew that offers recommendations on how to pressure local Sinclair stations to air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“Learn why the real battle is shifting from Disney’s national boardroom to your local station, and how you can make your voice heard where it counts,” according to the YouTube posting.
“Disney just caved and brought Jimmy Kimmel Live back to ABC after public pressure — proof that viewer voices matter.
“This video breaks down the playbook for how everyday people can fight back. Inspired by the United Auto Workers strike strategy, it shows how small, local groups of just 30–40 people can put real pressure on local ABC affiliates, their advertisers and their sponsors.”
rcraver@wsjournal.com
336-727-7376
@rcraverWSJ
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