Viewers of local TV stations operated by broadcast giants Nexstar and Sinclair can expect to see Jimmy Kimmel back on their screens soon—whether they enjoy his jokes or not. Media insiders told The Post that it is likely only a matter of days before the two companies, which collectively own dozens of ABC affiliate stations nationwide, end their suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the controversy over Kimmel’s remarks regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Disney CEO Bob Iger is expected to pull out all the stops to get Jimmy Kimmel back on air on Nexstar amd Sinclair stations, sources tell On The Money.Getty Images
The driving force behind the reinstatement is Disney, which owns ABC and is expected to leverage its considerable influence to pressure the affiliates into compliance. These affiliate agreements outline fee schedules for running network programming and the conditions under which local broadcasters may preempt or suspend shows. With Kimmel’s program removed from dozens of media markets across the country, national advertisers would have grounds to demand rebates or lower rates, potentially impacting Disney’s bottom line. According to a veteran media executive familiar with the situation, “This is coming to an end—sooner rather than later. Bob Iger knows the advertising pressure he’s going to face if Nexstar and Sinclair don’t bring back Kimmel, which means he will pull out all the stops to get Kimmel back on air.”
Representatives for Disney, Sinclair, and Nexstar declined to comment publicly, but sources inside the industry say that the stakes are significant. Affiliate agreements give broadcasters like Sinclair and Nexstar the ability to exercise a “right to reject” clause, allowing them to limit or refuse programming under certain conditions. The precedent for this power exists: in 2018, some affiliate stations refused to air Roseanne after allegedly racist comments by the show’s star, illustrating that the right to reject is not purely theoretical.
However, the current standoff involves layers of corporate leverage and regulatory pressure. Nexstar is seeking approval from the Trump-era Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its purchase of rival broadcaster Tegna, while Sinclair is constantly navigating regulatory approvals for acquisitions and other deals. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had previously suggested that he could block regulatory approvals for stations that air “false commentary,” adding a layer of potential legal and political risk for the affiliates.
People last week gather outside of KOMO-TV’s headquarters, the Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned ABC affiliate television station in Seattle, to protest ABC’s suspension of Kimmel.M. Scott Brauer/ZUMA / SplashNews.com
Kimmel’s remarks, which inaccurately claimed that the “MAGA gang” sought to manipulate the narrative surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination, were widely criticized as incendiary. Media insiders emphasize, however, that the affiliates face a more pressing issue: defying Disney could expose them to significant financial and contractual consequences. Both Nexstar and Sinclair signed their agreements fully aware of Kimmel’s hyper-partisan, anti-Trump humor. Disney could argue that continued preemption violates the terms of their contracts, and with ABC now having lifted its own suspension on Kimmel, the affiliates’ position has weakened.
Disney has multiple tools at its disposal. Beyond contractual enforcement, it could withhold marquee programming, including Monday Night Football, which airs both on ABC and Disney’s ESPN cable channel. Such a move would threaten to undermine ratings, advertising revenue, and the affiliates’ credibility with viewers. With both broadcasters controlling a substantial portion of ABC’s affiliate network—spanning 38 states and including some of the largest media markets in middle America—Kimmel’s absence creates a vacuum that affects Disney’s ability to charge premium ad rates. On average, approximately 1.4 million Americans watch Kimmel each night, a number that spiked to more than 6 million the night he returned amid the controversy.
With Kimmel’s show yanked from dozens of media markets across the US, national advertisers will begin demanding lower rates or rebates, forcing Iger to take legal action or other coercive measures.J W Hendricks/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
The financial stakes have put Disney CEO Bob Iger under immense pressure. For decades, Iger has managed the House of Mouse with a careful balance of corporate discipline and creative strategy. Now, he must navigate a politically charged dispute while safeguarding the network’s revenue streams and asserting the authority of ABC’s programming decisions. Allowing affiliates to pick and choose which shows to air at their discretion would set a dangerous precedent, potentially undermining Disney’s control over its content and audience metrics.
Industry observers note that this situation exemplifies the complex dynamics between network executives, local affiliates, and national advertisers. Affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair wield substantial influence because they control the distribution of network content to millions of Americans. At the same time, Disney maintains leverage through its ownership of ABC, the licensing agreements that underpin the network’s operations, and its ability to threaten key programming that drives viewer engagement. This delicate balance of power has created a standoff that is as much about corporate influence and contracts as it is about the controversy surrounding Kimmel.
The dispute has also ignited conversations about the broader implications for late-night television and freedom of expression in mainstream media. Critics argue that pulling Kimmel from the airwaves represents a form of corporate censorship driven by political pressure and advertiser anxiety. Others contend that network affiliates have a responsibility to moderate content that could be deemed misleading or incendiary. For Bob Iger and Disney, the priority is to protect ABC’s reputation and revenue while ensuring that network programming remains consistent across the country.
Sources suggest that, despite the tension, a resolution is imminent. Disney is expected to use both contractual and financial pressure to compel Nexstar and Sinclair to reinstate Kimmel’s show. Executives within both affiliate companies reportedly recognize the risks of defying the network: loss of advertising revenue, potential legal challenges, and negative media coverage. As one media insider put it, “Iger knows exactly how much is at stake. He won’t let this drag on—Kimmel is coming back.”
Sinclair is always in deal mode and in need of regulatory OKs, and Trump FCC chair Brendan Carr has said he would throttle deals of local broadcasters that air false commentary.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The broader implications of the reinstatement extend beyond Kimmel himself. The dispute highlights the influence of local affiliates in shaping national media narratives, the delicate balance of power between networks and their distribution partners, and the financial incentives that drive programming decisions. The outcome will be closely watched by other late-night hosts, network executives, and political observers, particularly in an era when media and politics are increasingly intertwined.
While Kimmel has not issued an apology regarding the controversial remarks that led to his temporary removal, his reinstatement signals a reaffirmation of his platform and influence. The decision also underscores the growing role of audience demand and social media reaction in shaping corporate decisions. Fans’ outcry over Kimmel’s suspension, combined with advertiser concerns, has made the continuation of the preemption increasingly untenable.
Ultimately, the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel Live! will likely be seen as a victory for Disney, reaffirming the authority of its programming decisions while navigating the complex landscape of affiliate relations, regulatory oversight, and national controversy. For Nexstar and Sinclair, it serves as a reminder of the intricate interdependence between local broadcasters and national networks. And for viewers, the episode highlights the evolving dynamics of power, influence, and accountability in American media.
Even as Disney, ABC, and the affiliates prepare for Kimmel’s return, the situation leaves lingering questions about the influence of political pressure, the boundaries of late-night commentary, and the responsibilities of networks, hosts, and distributors in shaping national discourse. Bob Iger’s anticipated maneuvers to restore Kimmel to air are as much about safeguarding corporate authority as they are about entertaining audiences, demonstrating how high the stakes have become in the modern media ecosystem.
