Broadcasters Sinclair Inc. and Nexstar Media Group, Inc. have decided to boycott Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show on their ABC affiliates across Georgia.
This decision comes in the wake of Kimmel’s comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which has led to reactions from both supporters and critics of the host.
Sinclair announced through a social media post late Monday that it would preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and replace it with news programming.
The statement indicated that the company is in ongoing discussions with ABC as they evaluate the show’s potential return.
Sinclair operates 39 ABC stations nationwide, and while the company functions in cities such as Albany, Macon, and Thomasville, only WGXA in Macon serves as an ABC affiliate.
Nexstar Media Group is also joining the boycott, aligning with Sinclair’s stance.
According to reports, Nexstar owns ABC-affiliate WJBF in Augusta, as well as WRBL in Columbus and WSAV in Savannah.
Together, Sinclair and Nexstar are significant corporate players in the ABC affiliate market, representing approximately 66 of the 230 stations airing ABC programming.
The controversy began when Kimmel addressed the fallout from Kirk’s assassination in his monologue on September 15.
In his remarks, Kimmel criticized certain political factions for their response to the tragedy, implying they were attempting to divert blame and exploit the situation for political gain.
Kirk, who was 31, was shot on September 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
In light of Kimmel’s comments, Sinclair made it clear it would not air his show on any of its stations until further discussions with ABC take place regarding accountability and professionalism.
The broadcaster also appealed for Kimmel to offer a direct apology to the Kirk family and suggested that he should make a personal donation to both the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.
Disney, the parent company of ABC, suspended Kimmel’s show to prevent further escalation of what it termed a tense and emotional situation in the country.
The suspension has been met with mixed responses, with President Donald Trump celebrating the decision, calling it “great news for America” and suggesting that federal regulators should revoke broadcast licenses for late-night hosts who criticize him.
On the other hand, the suspension has drawn strong condemnation from some quarters, including fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert, who described the move as a “blatant assault on freedom of speech.”
Protests against Disney and its handling of Kimmel’s comments have also emerged, including demonstrations outside the company’s Burbank studio and the El Capitan Entertainment Complex, where Kimmel’s show is filmed.
With tensions mounting around this issue, it remains to be seen how Sinclair and Nexstar’s actions will influence ABC’s broader programming strategy moving forward.
image source from：patch
