NEW YORK — Jimmy Kimmel has returned to his late-night ABC show, but viewers in some cities may still not be able to watch.
Several ABC stations, owned by Nexstar and Sinclair, stopped airing Kimmel’s show last week. This happened after Kimmel made comments that upset people who supported Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who recently died. Even after ABC lifted Kimmel’s suspension, these stations did not put his show back on the air right away.
Kimmel addressed the situation, saying he wasn’t trying to make light of Kirk’s death. He also honored Kirk’s widow.
Despite the show being unavailable in some areas, many people still watched. ABC said nearly 6.3 million people watched on television, and even more watched clips online.
Nexstar said they are still reviewing Kimmel’s show to make sure it reflects the values of the communities they serve. Nexstar and Sinclair own many ABC stations, particularly in smaller cities.
This situation highlights the connection between big TV networks and the local stations that broadcast their shows. In the past, local stations have sometimes avoided airing certain shows, but it was usually about concerns over language or adult content. Now, it appears groups of stations are making decisions based on political beliefs.
Some people worry that this could happen more often in the future. The leaders of these station groups often have more conservative views than the people in the entertainment industry. Since these groups need to work with the government, some believe they may be trying to please certain political figures.
It is also possible that Disney, the company that owns ABC, might take a hard line in negotiations if the matter is prolonged and they want to retain affiliates.
One thing is certain: the strong reaction to Kimmel’s comments shows how divided the country is right now, even when it comes to late-night television.
