Jimmy Kimmel's Late-Night Comeback Derailed: 70 ABC Affiliates Say No

Breaking: Jimmy Kimmel's Highly Anticipated Return to Late Night TV is a Ratings Disaster Waiting to Happen

The wait is almost over for Jimmy Kimmel's highly anticipated return to late-night TV, but it seems like his comeback is already facing a major roadblock. In a shocking move, 70 ABC affiliate stations have announced that they will not be broadcasting Tuesday's show, leaving many wondering if the ratings disaster was intentional.

The broadcasting conglomerate Nexstar Media Group has taken center stage in this drama, revealing on Tuesday morning that it would not be screening Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the 38 ABC stations it owns. This news comes hot on the heels of Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision to pull the plug on Kimmel's comeback show, citing "ill-timed and insensitive" comments made by the late-night host.

As it turns out, Nexstar is the largest owner of ABC affiliates, controlling a whopping 32% of all local-level stations. These include iconic outlets like KOMO in Seattle and KATU in Portland – two cities known for their liberal leanings and large populations that are naturally drawn to Kimmel's brand of humor. It's no secret that these viewers were crucial to Kimmel's success, but now it seems like they might be left in the dark.

Kimmel's show will also suffer from a significant loss of revenue due to a lack of advertising dollars. These lost ad deals could amount to millions, and ABC won't be able to recoup them anytime soon. It's clear that this decision is not just about ratings – it's about sending a message.

Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr has already chimed in on the controversy, threatening ABC after Kimmel made some incendiary comments regarding MAGA supporters' alleged connections to Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson. The fallout from these remarks was swift and severe, with Nextar Media Group being the first to pull the plug on Kimmel's show.

In a statement released by Nexstar, the company cited "concerns about fostering an environment of respectful dialogue" as the reason for pre-empting Kimmel's show. While it didn't explicitly say that Kimmel was at fault, the veiled criticism is clear. It seems like Nextar is trying to distance itself from ABC's flagship talk show, and the ratings will suffer as a result.

The company has vowed to replace Kimmel's show with news programming while they continue to "discuss" the matter with ABC. In other words, it looks like we can expect a prolonged absence of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on many local stations.

But don't worry – fans won't be left in the dark for long. As Nextar points out, Kimmel's show will still be available nationwide through multiple Disney-owned streaming platforms. It seems that ABC is trying to salvage what's left of its flagship program by pushing it online, but this might not be enough to save face.

As we continue to follow this developing story, one thing is clear: the drama surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s return to late-night TV has just reached new heights. Stay tuned for more updates on this juicy saga!

Sources:

• Variety
• Nexstar Media Group