ABC affiliates run by Nexstar Media Group will not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday, the company announced, making it the second broadcasting organization to decline to air the show’s return.
Nexstar Media Group, which owns and operates nearly 200 affiliate stations around the country, said on Tuesday that it would not air Kimmel’s show. The late-night host was suspended last week after he speculated about the political affiliation of the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk.
The Walt Disney Company negotiated the show’s return to ABC channels, but that doesn’t mean affiliates will necessarily run it — Sinclair Broadcasting Group announced Monday it would not air the late-night talk show on its nearly 40 ABC affiliates.
Nexstar Media Group is now doing the same.
“We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse,” the company said in a statement. “We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
“In the meantime, we note that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets,” the statement continued.
Nexstar Media Group is seeking FCC approval for a more than $6 billion acquisition of news media organization Tegna Inc., which would make it the largest owner of local news stations in the country.
President Donald Trump celebrated Kimmel’s suspension and has said he would consider revoking broadcast network licenses if they air material “against” him.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Disney.