Jimmy Kimmel returned to late night this week—but not for viewers served by more than 70 ABC affiliates owned or operated by Nexstar and Sinclair, which are continuing to preempt the program even as Disney reinstates it nationally, affecting about 23% of U.S. TV households as of Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 [1][2]. The companies say they are evaluating the decision, as regulators warn broadcasters about potential penalties tied to preemptions, intensifying scrutiny of the blackout’s scope and duration [1].

Key Takeaways

– Shows Nexstar’s roughly 30 ABC stations and Sinclair’s nearly 40 will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live, extending a blackout across 70+ affiliates [2]. – Reveals combined reach covers about 23% of U.S. TV households, limiting broadcast access even as Disney reinstates the show nationally this week [1][4]. – Demonstrates affiliates will substitute late-night slots with local news or alternate shows beginning Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, instead of Kimmel’s return [2][3]. – Indicates heightened FCC scrutiny and potential fines, with the dispute also intersecting Nexstar’s review of its proposed Tegna acquisition, increasing regulatory risk [1][2]. – Suggests preemptions remain indefinite pending ‘respectful’ dialogue, while new episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+, softening impact in blackout markets [3][5].

Why 70+ ABC stations sidelined Jimmy Kimmel now

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, Nexstar-owned ABC affiliates declined to carry Jimmy Kimmel’s return, joining Sinclair in continuing preemptions despite Disney restoring the show on the national feed [2][1]. In a statement, Nexstar called Kimmel’s recent remarks “ill-timed and insensitive” and said its owned and partner ABC stations will continue to preempt the program indefinitely while they “monitor” episodes and seek assurances of “respectful, constructive dialogue” in local markets [3]. Both companies described their policies as under ongoing evaluation, and stations plan to air local news or other alternative programming in the late-night slot [3][4].

Kimmel used his on-air return to condemn efforts to silence comedians, comments that framed the blackout within a broader free speech debate drawing intense social attention to the affiliates’ decisions [5]. While the national show is back, the affiliate blackouts create a patchwork distribution reality that diverges from the typical uniform carriage of a broadcast network’s late-night lineup [1][2].

How the blackout affects 23% of U.S. TV households

Together, Nexstar and Sinclair control more than 70 ABC stations that collectively reach about 23% of U.S. TV households—nearly one in four—illustrating the scale of disruption when both groups preempt a single show concurrently [1]. Nexstar owns roughly 30 ABC affiliates in markets such as Salt Lake City, Nashville, and New Orleans, while Sinclair operates nearly 40 ABC stations across the United States [2]. Those footprints ensure that in many large and midsize markets, viewers expecting Kimmel’s return encounter replacement programming instead of the network’s late-night schedule [2].

For affected households, the immediate impact is reduced over-the-air access to the reinstated broadcast, though Hulu and Disney+ continue to stream new episodes, providing a digital backstop for viewers in blackout markets [3][5]. Because Disney has restored the program nationally, this is not a network pause but a localized preemption by affiliates, creating asymmetry in availability that depends on the viewer’s market and medium (linear broadcast vs. streaming) [1][4].

Regulatory risk escalates around Jimmy Kimmel blackout

Regulators have warned broadcasters that preemptions could trigger penalties, a signal that officials are closely watching how affiliates exercise discretion over network scheduling and public interest obligations [1]. The combination of a high-profile program, a large share of U.S. households affected, and a multi-group blackout makes the situation more visible and raises the odds that agencies will scrutinize whether affiliates have grounded their decisions within policy and precedent [1].

CNBC also reported that the controversy could complicate ongoing regulatory assessments, including potential implications for Nexstar’s review involving Tegna, further elevating the stakes around how long the blackout persists and under what terms it might end [2]. Both companies say the matter remains under evaluation, leaving room for changes if regulatory guidance tightens or if negotiations produce a mutually acceptable framework [1].

Market-by-market view: Nexstar, Sinclair, and Jimmy Kimmel

Nexstar’s ABC stations serve markets including Salt Lake City, Nashville, and New Orleans, and the company has indicated those affiliates will fill the late-night window with local news or other programming while preemptions continue [2][3]. Sinclair’s decision to maintain preemptions across nearly 40 ABC stations broadens the blackout’s reach, reducing simultaneous broadcast access to Kimmel’s show across numerous geographic regions on his first night back [2][1].

In aggregate, the groups’ coverage spans more than 70 ABC affiliates, ensuring the scheduling move is widely felt across local markets and becomes a prominent test case in how station groups manage network content amid heightened political and cultural scrutiny [1]. By replacing the national late-night lineup with local alternatives, the affiliates are asserting programming control at a time when national attention on free expression and media independence is elevated [3][5].

What viewers can watch instead—and where Jimmy Kimmel streams

Nexstar said its ABC stations will substitute local news and other programming during the affected late-night slot, positioning the lineup as responsive to community standards while it monitors future episodes of the show [3]. Sinclair has taken a similar stance on its nearly 40 ABC affiliates, reinforcing that the blackout is not isolated to one group but reflects a broader station-level determination across significant portions of the ABC footprint [2][4].

For viewers who still want to watch Jimmy Kimmel’s return, new episodes remain available on Hulu and Disney+, making streaming the most reliable option in blackout markets while over-the-air access remains suspended [5][3]. Kimmel underscored the stakes by arguing that attempts to silence comedians are “anti-American,” remarks that fed public debate about the balance between editorial discretion by affiliates and a comedian’s right to critique public figures and institutions [5].

Jimmy Kimmel’s national return versus local blackouts

Disney’s decision to restore Jimmy Kimmel Live nationally ensures network continuity, but the local blackouts mean the show’s reach is fragmented, with linear broadcast availability depending on a viewer’s market and service provider [1][4]. This unusual dynamic—national reinstatement paired with local preemption—illustrates how affiliate agreements can shape real-world audience access to late-night programming even when a network resumes normal operations [1].

Because the blackouts touch about 23% of U.S. TV households, the overall audience for the return episode may skew more heavily to streaming in markets where affiliates have opted out of the broadcast feed [1][5]. The shift underscores how changes in local carriage can quickly redirect viewing behavior to over-the-top platforms, particularly when major streamers distribute next-day or same-day episodes [5][3].

What comes next for Jimmy Kimmel, affiliates, and Disney

Nexstar characterized its preemption as indefinite and tied to ongoing monitoring and calls for “respectful, constructive dialogue,” language that suggests no firm timetable for restoring the show on its ABC stations [3]. Both Nexstar and Sinclair say they are continuing to evaluate their positions, a stance that could reflect sensitivity to evolving regulatory guidance and public reaction as officials warn that penalties may follow certain preemption decisions [1].

CNBC noted that the dispute could intersect with regulatory reviews linked to Nexstar’s Tegna ambitions, adding another layer of complexity to the calculus station owners must weigh as the blackout continues [2]. Public pressure has also intensified: more than 400 entertainers signed an ACLU-backed letter supporting Kimmel, signaling widespread cultural interest in the affiliates’ decisions and fueling debate over the limits of editorial control in broadcast distribution [5].

For Disney, national reinstatement maintains schedule integrity and reduces friction for network operations, but uneven affiliate carriage means market-level access remains inconsistent until the station groups change course [1][4]. In the near term, the pathway to resolution likely runs through a combination of regulatory clarity, dialogue between station owners and the network, and observable audience response as viewers in blackout areas turn to streaming to keep up with the show [1][3][5].

Sources:

[1] Reuters – Nexstar, Sinclair will not resume airing ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’: www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/nexstar-continue-preempt-jimmy-kimmel-live-broadcasts-2025-09-23/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/nexstar-continue-preempt-jimmy-kimmel-live-broadcasts-2025-09-23/

[2] CNBC – Nexstar-owned ABC affiliates won’t show Kimmel’s return Tuesday, joining Sinclair in preempting program: www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/09/23/kimmel-abc-nexstar-sinclair-fcc.html” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/09/23/kimmel-abc-nexstar-sinclair-fcc.html [3] Nexstar Media Group (press release) – Nexstar ABC Affiliates To Continue Preempting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”: www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-abc-affiliates-to-continue-preempting-jimmy-kimmel-live/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-abc-affiliates-to-continue-preempting-jimmy-kimmel-live/

[4] NBC News – Nexstar’s ABC affiliates will keep Jimmy Kimmel show off air for now: www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/nexstar-sinclair-abc-affiliates-jimmy-kimmel-live/4274043/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/nexstar-sinclair-abc-affiliates-jimmy-kimmel-live/4274043/ [5] The Guardian – Jimmy Kimmel says silencing comedians is ‘anti-American’, as his show returns to air after suspension: www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/24/jimmy-kimmel-says-trump-tried-his-best-to-cancel-him-as-his-show-returns-to-air-after-suspension” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/24/jimmy-kimmel-says-trump-tried-his-best-to-cancel-him-as-his-show-returns-to-air-after-suspension

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