Jimmy Kimmel Makes Return To Sinclair And Nexstar Stations

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is set to return to ABC affiliates owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar after being preempted following his remarks about Charlie Kirk‘s alleged killer and supporters of President Trump.

The organization had previously stated that it would not revive the show unless the comedian met specific conditions.

However, Sinclair has seemingly reversed that stance with its announcement to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel‘s show, with reports also noting that no editorial or content concessions were made to Sinclair.

After a week-long blackout, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is returning to Sinclair Broadcast Group’s ABC affiliates, per the New York Post.

The company confirmed on Friday in a statement that the late-night program would resume airing the same evening, following Disney’s decision earlier in the week to reinstate Kimmel after a four-day suspension.

Kimmel was suspended over his comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer and supporters of former President Trump on the episode of his show after the right-wing political influencer’s assassination.

While Sinclair had initially insisted that the show would not return unless Kimmel issued an apology to the Kirk family and made a donation to Kirk’s family and Turning Point USA, a non-profit organization, it appears they went ahead and reinstated him without those conditions being met.

According to a source, Disney has also made no editorial or content concessions to Sinclair, suggesting that Kimmel will retain full freedom over the tone and content of his commentary on the show.

In the statement, Sinclair outlined the reasoning behind its decision to bring the show back on air.

“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” read a part of the statement from the company that owns 40 ABC affiliates.

Elsewhere, the company noted that feedback from viewers and advertisers played a key role in its decision to reverse course.

It also pointed to “troubling acts of violence,” including the recent shooting at an ABC station in Sacramento, as additional factors behind the move.

Speaking further about the matter, the company urged TV showrunners, including hosts, to continue embracing “responsible broadcasting” and “respectful dialogue” regardless of whether their opinions differ from those of the opposing side.

“Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations,” Sinclair further stated.

They also pointed out that while many may not agree with their programming decisions, they would rather uphold this stance,  as “it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.”

Just like Sinclair, Nexstar Media Group, which also pulled the show, has confirmed it would bring Kimmel back.

According to reports, Nexstar made the announcement shortly after Sinclair revealed that it planned to air the comedian’s show on its channels again.

Nexstar owns 30 ABC affiliates, meaning Kimmel’s continued absence would have been felt among devoted fans in the regions where the company broadcasts.

Sources close to Disney had earlier claimed that CEO Bob Iger is determined to push for the show’s reinstatement amid growing pressure from advertisers.

“This is coming to an end — sooner rather than later,” said one source about the standoff, per the New York Post.

They added, “Iger knows the advertising pressure he’s going to face if Nexstar and Sinclair don’t bring back Kimmel, which means he will pull out all the stops to get Kimmel back on air.”

On his first night back on air following his suspension, Kimmel delivered a lengthy monologue in which he appeared to walk back his statement but stopped short of offering an apology for the remarks.

“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said, per the New York Post. “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions,” he continued.

He added, “It was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make … for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset.”

Kimmel’s remarks quickly sparked backlash from some quarters, with critics accusing him of trying to paint himself as the victim. Others went so far as to call him a liar and condemn him for failing to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family for his comments.