Introduction to the Controversy
Television station giant Nexstar Media Group said it will not run “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as the Walt Disney Co. brings the ABC comedian back to television Tuesday night. Disney on Monday reversed its suspension of the late-night talk show after the host’s comments about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk set off a political firestorm.
Station Groups’ Decision
Nexstar joins Sinclair Broadcast Group in continuing to keep Kimmel off the air in cities around the country. “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,” Nexstar said Tuesday 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,” Nexstar said.
Market Coverage and Implications
The Texas-based company operates 32 ABC affiliate stations, including in Salt Lake City, Nashville and Midland, Texas. Nexstar and Sinclair cover about 25% of U.S. television homes, which will diminish the reach of advertisers who buy time in the ABC television program. Nexstar needs the approval of the Federal Communications Commission for its $6.2-billion takeover of Tegna, another large television station group.
Regulatory Involvement
Last week, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called on ABC to take action. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said during an appearance on a right-wing podcast hosted by Benny Johnson. The chairman’s comments caused a stir. Nexstar was the first station group to pull Kimmel, prompting Disney to put the show on hiatus.
Background on the Suspension
The Burbank entertainment giant’s decision last Wednesday — which came as fans were lined up to see the show taped at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood — was taken “because we felt some of [Kimmel’s] comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” Disney said in a statement. Kimmel during last week’s monologue seemed to suggest that Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused in the shooting death of Kirk, might have been a pro-Trump Republican.
Pressure and Reactions
He said MAGA supporters “are desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” Carr called Kimmel’s comments “the sickest conduct possible.” Carr said that stations have the right to pull the show if owners believe the content conflicts with community standards. Disney was facing withering pressure on multiple fronts.
Celebrity and Public Response
More than 400 celebrities, including such Disney talent as Selena Gomez, Martin Short, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kerry Washington and Lin-Manuel Miranda, signed an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union. It decried attempts at government censorship, which “strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.”
Nexstar’s Portfolio and Future Plans
Nexstar has more than 200 stations in 116 markets, although some are owned through partnerships. The company also owns NewsNation, the cable news channel launched in 2020, and a majority stake in the CW Network. It unveiled its blockbuster deal last month to buy Tegna, which owns stations in 51 markets, including KFMB in San Diego and KXTV in Sacramento. The combination would create a TV station behemoth covering about 80% of the U.S. television households.
Regulatory Approval and Next Steps
Carr, an appointee of President Trump, must approve the transfer of station licenses to Nexstar. The company said its stations would continue to “produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.”
Conclusion
The decision by Nexstar and Sinclair to not air "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" reflects the complex and sensitive nature of political discourse in the media. The controversy surrounding Kimmel’s comments and the subsequent actions by Disney, Nexstar, and regulatory bodies underscore the challenges of balancing free speech with community standards and the potential implications for media conglomerates and their programming.
FAQs
- Q: Why did Nexstar decide not to run "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"?
- A: Nexstar decided not to run the show due to Kimmel’s comments being deemed "ill-timed and insensitive" regarding the shooting death of Charlie Kirk.
- Q: How many ABC affiliate stations does Nexstar operate?
- A: Nexstar operates 32 ABC affiliate stations.
- Q: What percentage of U.S. television homes do Nexstar and Sinclair cover?
- A: Nexstar and Sinclair cover about 25% of U.S. television homes.
- Q: What is the status of Nexstar’s takeover of Tegna?
- A: Nexstar’s $6.2-billion takeover of Tegna awaits approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
- Q: Who must approve the transfer of station licenses to Nexstar?
- A: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr must approve the transfer.
