Sinclair ends Jimmy Kimmel boycott; show to resume airing

Sinclair Broadcast Group has decided to put Jimmy Kimmel back on the air. The company announced that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will resume on its 38 ABC stations starting Friday evening. The decision ends a weeklong preemption that began after Kimmel’s controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killer.

Sinclair pulls the plug

On Sept. 17, Sinclair announced it would indefinitely preempt the late-night show. The move came two days after Kimmel criticised “the MAGA gang” for trying to score political points over Kirk’s murder. The conservative-leaning broadcaster demanded that Kimmel apologise to Kirk’s family and make a “meaningful” personal donation to Turning Point USA, Kirk’s organisation. Nexstar, another major station group, also pulled the show.


ABC responded by suspending Kimmel on Sept. 17, but Disney brought him back on Sept. 23. That night’s episode drew the highest ratings in the show’s history, even without Sinclair and Nexstar airing it.

In an emotional monologue, Kimmel said, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” He added, “I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it. And I still do.”

Sinclair’s reversal

On Sept 26, Sinclair released a statement saying the show would return immediately. “While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content,” the group said.

The broadcaster explained that feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders played a role. The company also pointed to troubling incidents of violence, including a shooting at an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, as a reminder of why responsible broadcasting matters. Sinclair said its decision was “independent of any government interaction or influence” and confirmed it had proposed accountability measures such as a network-wide ombudsman.

The bigger picture

Sinclair’s reversal comes just days after Nexstar also confirmed it would resume airing the show. Both groups had faced criticism that their actions were influenced by FCC chairman Brendan Carr’s threat to pursue “news distortion” complaints. Both Sinclair and Nexstar denied government involvement.

In closing, Sinclair emphasised its role as a community broadcaster: “As a company rooted in local stations, Sinclair remains committed to serving our communities with programming that reflects their priorities, earns their trust, and promotes constructive dialogue.”