Local TV Giants End Jimmy Kimmel Boycott - NYT [View all]
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Sinclair and Nexstar, the two large local TV owners that dropped Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the late-night comedians remarks about the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, are resuming the program after negotiations with ABC, ending a highly unusual boycott that became a flashpoint for free speech in the United States.
The companies, which own scores of TV stations across the United States, had been pre-empting the show since its return on Tuesday, blacking out the program for millions of Americans. Both announced their decision in statements on Friday.
Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience, Sinclair said in a statement. We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming.
The face-off with Disney began last week, days after a monologue from Mr. Kimmel that led many conservatives, including the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, to argue that he had mischaracterized the political beliefs of Mr. Kirks shooter. ABC initially suspended his show indefinitely. He returned on Tuesday, setting off a fierce debate over First Amendment freedoms.
That was fast www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/b...
— Josh Chafetz (@joshchafetz.bsky.social) 2025-09-27T15:26:54.953Z