‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Returns to All Affiliates After Network-Affiliate Dispute

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is back on the air across the country after a weeklong standoff between ABC and station groups Nexstar and Sinclair, resolving a dispute sparked by controversial comments made by the late-night host.

The conflict began after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr criticized Disney, ABC’s parent company, over a monologue in which Kimmel discussed the political reactions to a recent shooting. Nexstar and Sinclair subsequently pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from their ABC affiliates, impacting access to the show for approximately 25% of the U.S. television audience. Disney briefly suspended Kimmel, but ultimately reinstated him, and the affiliates restored the program yesterday, September 26th. This dispute highlights a growing tension between broadcast networks and their affiliates, as detailed in reports from The Hollywood Reporter.

While Disney successfully restored the show’s broadcast, the situation exposed deeper issues regarding the relationship between networks and affiliates. Affiliates are increasingly unhappy with declining network ratings while simultaneously facing rising “reverse compensation” fees – payments they make to networks to air programming. One station group executive stated, “Are we happy? No. But hopefully we can coexist.” The situation also comes as Nexstar seeks to acquire Tegna for $6.2 billion, a move that would significantly expand its reach to 80% of over-the-air TV audiences, and Sinclair pushes for the adoption of the ATSC 3.0 transmission technology, also known as “NextGen TV.” NextGen TV promises enhanced features but also raises concerns about potential shifts in spectrum usage.

The dispute underscores a broader shift in the television landscape, with networks prioritizing streaming platforms and affiliates questioning the value of the traditional broadcast model. As Bob Iger and Disney consider the future of their broadcast holdings, the events of the past week may accelerate the conversation about the long-term viability of the network-affiliate system. Officials at both Disney, Nexstar, and Sinclair have declined to comment further on the matter, but are expected to continue negotiations regarding future programming agreements.