Two major US broadcast owners said they will not resume airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday on their ABC affiliates and will instead run other programming, after ABC parent Walt Disney announced on Monday that it would resume broadcasting the late-night talk show.
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Nexstar Media and Sinclair Broadcasting said they will not resume airing the show on their 70 owned and partner ABC stations, which is more than 25 per cent of the roughly 250 ABC affiliates nationwide.
It is unclear how long the local broadcasters will shun the programme.
“Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” Sinclair said.
ABC suspended Kimmel’s show on September 17 over comments he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Charlie Kirk murder suspect taken into custody
Charlie Kirk murder suspect taken into custody
Hours before the suspension, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr warned that local broadcasters who aired Kimmel could face fines or loss of licences and said “it’s time for them to step up”.