00:00Jimmy Kimmel may be returning to his late-night show on Tuesday,
00:03but the program will not air on 66 ABC stations across the U.S.,
00:08as Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nextstar both say they will preempt the show.
00:13Sinclair said in a statement on Monday,
00:16Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live across our ABC
00:20affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming.
00:23Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show's potential return.
00:27And Nextstar said in its own statement on Tuesday,
00:30We made a decision last week to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live following what ABC referred to
00:35as Mr. Kimmel's ill-timed and insensitive comments at a critical time in our national discourse.
00:40We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering
00:44an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.
00:49The statement continued,
00:50In the meantime, we note that Jimmy Kimmel Live will be available nationwide on multiple
00:54Disney-owned streaming products.
00:55While our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news
00:58and other programming relevant to their respective markets.
01:02The Walt Disney Company said Monday that Kimmel would return to the air
01:05after his nearly week-long suspension.
01:07Nextstar, it should be noted, has a $6 billion-plus deal pending before the FCC to acquire Tegna,
01:13an agreement that would make it by far the largest owner of local TV stations in the country.
01:18Sinclair has also expressed a desire to pursue mergers and acquisitions,
01:22which would also require FCC approval.
01:24For more on this story, go to THR.com.
01:27This is The Hollywood Reporter News.
Comments