Sinclair Ends Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Resumes ABC Broadcasts Amid Controversy

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will end its preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and resume airing the program on its ABC affiliates Friday evening, restoring the show in dozens of markets (including Washington, D.C., Seattle, parts of California and most of South Carolina). The blackout began after ABC suspended Kimmel over comments about the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk; ABC reinstated the show earlier, but Sinclair and fellow affiliate Nexstar initially continued the carriage refusal, touching off a national debate about free speech and political pressure — including warnings from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Sinclair said its reversal was “independent of any government interaction or influence,” citing feedback from viewers, advertisers and community leaders, concerns about responsible broadcasting and a recent shooting at an ABC affiliate as part of the context for its earlier decision. Nexstar has not yet restored the show and is reportedly in discussions with ABC, while industry analysts warned that station-level boycotts accelerate cord-cutting, strain linear-TV economics and raise questions about broadcasters’ long-term strategies. An industry source said no editorial concessions to Kimmel or ABC were made for Sinclair’s return, and Kimmel’s comeback included a lengthy monologue defending free speech and thanking supporters — a flashpoint in the wider media and political backlash. The reversal may increase pressure on other affiliates to follow suit even as the episode underscores tensions among networks, station groups, regulators and audiences over content and influence.