Sinclair Broadcasting said on Friday it will end its pre-emption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and that the show will return in the evening on Sinclair’s nearly 40 ABC-affiliated stations.
Sinclair is one of two major broadcast owners that had not agreed to resume airing the show this week after Disney lifted a nearly week-long suspension of the show.
It had faced pressure from some lawmakers over the decision to not air the program.
“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” the company said Friday in a press release.
Kimmel’s show was first suspended on Sept. 17 following a joke the late-night host made in a monologue days prior about the shooting death of MAGA-aligned conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Earlier this week, Nexstar — another ABC affiliate — said they wouldn’t put Kimmel back on the air, even as Kimmel’s show hit record numbers on YouTube. The broadcasting group said they were “continuing to evaluate the status” of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but would keep it pre-empted in the meantime.
“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,” Nexstar said in a statement earlier this week.
The two station owners represent about 25 per cent of all affiliates.
