A pair of local TV news providers that since last week had preempted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” over comments the host made regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk will end their blackouts of the ABC show, the broadcasters announced Friday.
Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair both said they would bring Kimmel back on their ABC affiliate airwaves effective immediately, more than a week after dropping his show before he was suspended by the Disney-owned network.
“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience. 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,” Sinclair said in a statement.
The broadcaster said it had “received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives,” on the Kimmel saga.
Nexstar, in its announcement, said it “had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns,” about Kimmel.
“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,” the company continued. “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.”
ABC suspended Kimmel for days after his comments on air, during which the comedian accused conservatives of trying to score “political points” over the activist’s death and joked President Trump was mourning Kirk “like a 4-year-old mourns a dead goldfish.”
Disney, as it brought Kimmel back this week, called the comedian’s comments about Kirk “ill-timed” and “insensitive.”
Nexstar, which owns The Hill and is the largest provider of local news in the country, announced it would not carry Kimmel’s show just hours after Trump Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr criticized the host over his remarks about Kirk and suggested ABC or its affiliates should drop the show.
The company earlier this year announced plans for a multibillion-dollar merger with rival TV local company Tegna, a deal that will require approval from Trump’s FCC to clear.
“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,” Nexstar said in its announcement on Friday.
An emotional Kimmel returned to the air Tuesday evening and insisted his comments were not aimed at “making light of the murder of a young man,” but argued the Trump administration was trying to censor him, an effort he called “un-American.”
Trump expressed frustration that ABC had reinstated Kimmel just hours before he returned to the air, writing in a Truth Social post, “I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do.”
Updated: 5:01 p.m. EDT