The local TV station boycott of ABC‘s Jimmy Kimmel Live! appears to be ending.
Sinclair and Nexstar each said that they would end preemption of the late night show Friday night.
Sinclair said it made the decision after “thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives.”
That said, while Sinclair appears to have been seeking notable concessions (including an ombudsman at ABC), a source says that no editorial or content concessions were made by Disney.
“In our ongoing and constructive discussions with ABC, Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman,” Sinclair said in a statement. “These proposals were suggested as collaborative efforts between the ABC affiliates and the ABC network. While ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures, and Sinclair respects their right to make those decisions under our network affiliate agreements, we believe such measures could strengthen trust and accountability.”
Nexstar said that it made the decision after having “had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns.”
It is not clear whether those talks will lead to anything more concrete.
“As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment while producing and airing local and national news that is fact-based and unbiased and, above all, broadcasting content that is in the best interest of the communities we serve,” Nexstar’s statement continued. “We stand apart from cable television, monolithic streaming services, and national networks in our commitment – and obligation – to be stewards of the public airwaves and to protect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities. To be clear, our commitment to those principles has guided our decisions throughout this process, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals.”
It was pressure from the station owners Nexstar and Sinclair that initially forced Disney to take Kimmel’s show off-air, with the two companies who collectively control nearly one quarter of all ABC stations saying they were going to preempt the show in the wake of comments he made on the program.
Sinclair is the largest owner of ABC stations, with 38 spread across the country, including in major markets like Washington, D.C., and Seattle.
Disney ultimately brought back the show a few days later, saying that executives “made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.”
However, Sinclair and Nexstar said that they would not be airing Kimmel’s return Tuesday night, reiterating the concerns they had that sparked the initial suspension. The result was that Kimmel’s show was dark in cities like Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Salt Lake City, and nearly one quarter of all households across the country.
Both companies, however, noted that talks continued between them and ABC.
It is worth noting that Nexstar is in the midst of a $6.2 billion deal to acquire Tegna, a deal that if allowed to go through would make it by far the largest owner of local TV stations in the U.S. That deal requires FCC approval. Sinclair, meanwhile, has also said that it wants to engage in M&A, moves that would also require attention from the FCC.
Sinclair says that the FCC did not play a role in its decision.
“Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence,” the company said. “Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations. While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.”
Of course, the way consumers view their late night shows has changed. Kimmel’s monologue broke his own YouTube viewership record, underscoring that as the primary place where people were engaging with the program.
