Sinclair Broadcasting Group said it will pull ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its 178 stations in 81 markets until host Jimmy Kimmel issues a direct apology to Charlie Kirk’s family and donates to Turning Point USA, arguing Disney's suspension of the show was insufficient.
Sinclair, a Baltimore-based operator of one of the nation’s largest local-television networks, said Kimmel’s on-air remarks about Kirk’s assassination were inappropriate and deeply insensitive. The company announced a remembrance special for Kirk that it will air during Kimmel’s scheduled Friday timeslot across Sinclair-owned stations and has offered the program to other ABC affiliates. It said the special will run in Kirk’s memory and be part of broader discussions about accountability in local broadcasting. Sinclair also called on Kimmel to make a meaningful personal donation to Kirk’s family and to Turning Point USA.
ABC, owned by Disney, suspended production of Kimmel’s late-night program indefinitely after he mocked what he described as the MAGA movement in a Monday monologue, accusing conservatives of trying to exploit Kirk’s killing for political gain. Prosecutors later identified the suspected shooter as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson and said he may have had personal and possibly political motives.
The pressure campaign quickly drew support from other broadcasters. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that change was needed and urged affiliates to preempt Kimmel’s program, calling the incident a sign that regulators should address the broader dynamic between large national networks and local stations.
Nexstar Media Group, another major broadcaster with dozens of ABC affiliates, also dropped Kimmel’s program. Nexstar, which owns 265 stations across 44 states, is pursuing a $6.2 billion cash deal to acquire Tegna, a merger that requires approval from Carr’s FCC and the Trump administration, with filings expected by month’s end. If approved, the merger is anticipated to close by the middle of next year.
Disney has been pursuing regulatory approvals tied to its broader media strategy, including a potential NFL deal. Disney’s ESPN is pursuing the acquisition of NFL Network, NFL RedZone and NFL Fantasy — potentially folding them into its portfolio in a deal analysts estimate at $2 billion to $3 billion. In exchange, the NFL would own a 10% equity stake in Disney’s sports enterprise.
Observers suggested the company may have weighed political and regulatory considerations in deciding how to respond to Kimmel’s remarks, though Disney has not publicly linked the suspension to any specific political calculation. In the public arena, responses were mixed: supporters gathered outside venues in Hollywood to protest the suspension, while others praised it as accountability. Former President Donald Trump celebrated the move on social media, arguing it would benefit the country by limiting what he described as low-rated programming.
SAG-AFTRA said the move set a dangerous precedent for government influence over broadcasters, and the Writers Guild of America characterized the suspension as a direct attack on creative freedom. Senate leaders weighed in with criticisms of the decision, while ABC has not stated whether Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return or be canceled. The network did not respond to requests for comment.
As the industry watches closely, ABC has not offered a timetable for resuming production or returning Kimmel to the airwaves. The company emphasized that discussions with Sinclair and other affiliates would determine the show’s future, while continuing to grapple with the fallout from the episode and the broader regulatory environment shaping local broadcasting today.
Meanwhile, a separate cultural debate swirls around how digital platforms and traditional broadcast outlets intersect with political discourse, as regulators, lawmakers and industry executives reassess the balance between free expression and accountability in the modern media landscape. Proponents of stricter standards argue that powerful networks should be more responsive to communities they serve, while critics warn against politicizing programming decisions and stifling satire and commentary. In Los Angeles and beyond, viewers continue to follow the aftermath of the suspension, awaiting a resolution that could reshape how national networks manage local relationships in the future.
