Sinclair and Nexstar preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live, citing community standards after Charlie Kirk comments
Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group have indefinitely preempted Jimmy Kimmel Live! on many ABC affiliates, replacing it with local news after remarks about Charlie Kirk they called offensive and out of step with community standards.
- Large station groups — Sinclair and Nexstar — paused carriage of the ABC late-night program on dozens of affiliates.
- Local replacements: affected stations are running expanded local news or alternate programming in place of the talk show.
- Network vs. affiliates: ABC/Disney restored Kimmel to the lineup, but affiliates retain the right to preempt in their markets.
- Regulatory stakes: the move adds scrutiny to consolidation and pending transactions involving station groups.
What Sinclair and Nexstar said and did
Both companies issued public statements explaining their decisions. Nexstar press release said the company would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its ABC affiliates immediately, calling the remarks “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse” and saying airing the show “is not in the public interest at the current time.”
Sinclair issued a parallel statement and began replacing the late-night program on its ABC stations with local or regional news content, emphasizing a need to air programming that “reflects local community standards.” Reporting on both companies’ actions is available from CBS News and USA Today.
“We believe airing the program is not in the public interest at the current time,” Nexstar said in its statement.
Why the move matters
Sinclair and Nexstar own dozens of ABC affiliates — roughly one-quarter of the network’s stations — giving them practical leverage to shape what viewers see in major markets. When those groups preempt a network program, viewers in affected areas lose over-the-air access even if the network continues to air the show.
Collective action by large station groups can effectively limit a network’s reach in key markets and raises questions about local control, regulatory review and the balance between network decisions and community standards.
What ABC/Disney did
ABC and Disney briefly suspended Jimmy Kimmel after the controversy, then announced his return to the network lineup. The network moved to put the program back on its schedule while leaving local carriage decisions to affiliates — underscoring that affiliates retain the right to preempt network programming in their markets (coverage: Axios; USA Today).
Local programming replacements
Affected Sinclair and Nexstar stations have run expanded local news or alternate shows in place of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. For example, in Oklahoma, Sinclair’s KTUL and Nexstar’s KOCO aired local news segments or other programming rather than the network late-night show (The Oklahoman; CBS News).
Practical result: viewers expecting the national late-night lineup on their local ABC stations find local coverage instead, shifting audience metrics and ad inventory for those stations.
Background: the controversy
The preemptions follow a September monologue in which Jimmy Kimmel made remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The comments prompted backlash, calls for broadcaster responses and public commentary from the FCC chairman, increasing regulatory scrutiny. That pressure contributed to ABC’s brief suspension and motivated station groups to act independently in their local markets (USA Today).
Industry and regulatory context
Nexstar is pursuing a $6.2 billion bid to buy Tegna, a transaction requiring FCC approval. Sinclair has been reported to be exploring station divestitures that would also be subject to regulatory review. The dispute adds a political and regulatory wrinkle to those deals and will likely draw attention from lawmakers and regulators concerned about consolidation and the public interest standard (CBS News; Axios).
How viewers and advertisers are affected
For viewers in affected markets, the immediate effect is simple: late-night viewers will not see Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their local ABC stations. For advertisers, the switch can change where late-night inventory is bought and how audiences are reached.
- Local ad impact: stations replacing the show with news may retain local ad dollars; national advertisers buying time for the network show will need to adjust placements.
- Streaming and on-demand: network clips and episodes may appear online, but live, free over-the-air access will vary by market.
Balance of power: network vs. affiliate
This episode illustrates the tension between national network programming and local affiliate control. Networks schedule and produce shows, but affiliates can preempt programming in their markets when they believe local standards or interests demand it. When major station groups act together, their choices can effectively limit a network’s reach.
Implications for Alamogordo, New Mexico
Economic: Alamogordo viewers who watch ABC over-the-air or via local affiliates may find Kimmel replaced by local news, slightly shifting late-night viewing patterns and local ad sales (CBS News).
Political & social: the preemption reinforces the role of local stations in reflecting community standards and may be viewed as defending local values by conservative audiences. It also reduces the spread of late-night political commentary in some homes while pushing viewers to streaming or out-of-market options.
Cultural relevance: residents who prioritize traditional or conservative viewpoints may see the action as an assertion of community standards; others will likely turn to alternative platforms for national entertainment and commentary.
Practical applications for residents
- Check your local ABC affiliate’s schedule to confirm whether Jimmy Kimmel Live! is airing; affiliates owned by Sinclair or Nexstar may have replaced it with local news.
- Watch Kimmel via network streaming, on-demand clips, or out-of-market services if your local feed is preempting the show.
- Local advertisers should contact station sales representatives to confirm late-night inventory and adjust buys accordingly.
Reporting note
This article draws on company announcements and reporting from multiple outlets. For station-specific airing information in Alamogordo, check your local ABC affiliate’s schedule or contact the station directly.
