Are We Live? "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Returns to Sinclair and Nexstar ABC Affiliate Channels
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is returning to ABC tonight after a highly controversial week-long hiatus. For his return, he’ll be joined by guests Glen Powell and Sarah McLachlan. However, many stations throughout the nation will continue to preempt the show – namely those owned by Sinclair, Inc. and Nexstar Media Group.
UPDATE – 3:30 p.m. PT, September 26th:
Nexstar has also announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to their ABC affiliate channels tonight, September 26th. The second largest operator of ABC affiliate channels shared a statement on their website sharing the series’ return.
In a much shorter statement than Sinclair, Nexstar echoed many of the key talking points, including their “constructive" conversations with The Walt Disney Company. Highlighting their commitment to protecting the First Amendment, their decision to preempt the show also came from concerns regarding the best interest of the communities they broadcast to. Specifically, they shared that they set out “to be stewards of the public airwaves and to protect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities."
Nexstar also clarified their decisions have been free of external or governmental influence.
UPDATE – 12:15 p.m. PT, September 26th:
Sinclair, Inc. has announced it will end its preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their ABC affiliate channels effective tonight, September 26th. The media company, who is the largest owner and operator of ABC affiliate channels, released a full statement on their official website.
According to the statement, Sinclair’s intent behind the late-night show’s omission from their broadcast schedule was to “ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience."The decision to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! comes after feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders “representing a wide range of perspectives," as well as a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento.Sinclair also shares that they have had “constructive conversations" with ABC, suggesting the Disney-owned network prioritize accountability and community discourse with the help of an independent ombudsman. ABC has yet to conform to these suggestions.
Coming to the defense, Sinclair was stern in its decision to exercise free speech, claiming it “simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content."
We’ve put together a list of affiliates owned by those companies so you can see if your area is affected. Jimmy Kimmel Live! will continue to stream nationwide on Hulu the following day, with clips also available on the JKL YouTube channel.
Sinclair ABC Affiliates (No Longer Preempted)
- KTXS — Abilene–Sweetwater, Texas (ABC, CW)
- KVII — Amarillo, Texas (ABC, CW)
- KVIH — Amarillo, Texas (ABC, CW)
- WABM — Birmingham, Ala. (MyTV, ABC)
- WBMA — Birmingham, Ala. (ABC)
- WDBB — Birmingham, Ala. (CW, ABC)
- WICD — Champaign–Springfield–Decatur, Ill. (ABC)
- WICS — Champaign–Springfield–Decatur, Ill. (ABC)
- WCHS — Charleston–Huntington, WV (ABC, FOX)
- WCIV — Charleston, SC (MyTV, ABC)
- WTVC — Chattanooga, Tenn. (ABC, FOX)
- WSYX — Columbus, Ohio (ABC, MyTV, FOX)
- WKEF — Dayton, Ohio (ABC, FOX, MyTV)
- KAEF — Eureka, Calif. (ABC)
- WPDE — Florence–Myrtle Beach, SC (ABC, CW)
- WXLV — Greensboro–High Point–Winston-Salem, NC (ABC)
- WLOS — Greenville–Spartanburg, SC / Asheville, NC / Anderson, SC (ABC, MyTV)
- WCTI — Greenville–New Bern–Washington, NC (ABC)
- KHGI — Lincoln–Hastings–Kearney, Neb. (ABC, FOX)
- KHGI-CD — Lincoln–Hastings–Kearney, Neb. (ABC)
- KWNB — Lincoln–Hastings–Kearney, Neb. (ABC, FOX)
- KWNB-LD — Lincoln–Hastings–Kearney, Neb. (ABC, FOX)
- KATV — Little Rock–Pine Bluff, Ark. (ABC)
- WGXA — Macon, Ga. (FOX, ABC)
- WEAR — Mobile, Ala. / Pensacola, FL (ABC)
- KTVO — Ottumwa, Iowa / Kirksville, MO (ABC, CBS)
- KATU — Portland, Ore. (ABC)
- KHQA — Quincy, IL / Hannibal, Mo. / Keokuk, IA (CBS, ABC)
- WSET — Roanoke–Lynchburg, Va. (ABC)
- WHAM — Rochester, NY (ABC, CW)
- KTXE-LD — San Angelo, Texas (ABC)
- KOMO — Seattle–Tacoma, Wash. (ABC)
- KDNL — St. Louis, Mo. (ABC)
- WGTQ — Traverse City–Cadillac, Mich. (ABC, NBC)
- WGTU — Traverse City–Cadillac, Mich. (ABC, NBC)
- WPBN — Traverse City–Cadillac, Mich. (NBC, ABC)
- WTOM — Traverse City–Cadillac, Mich. (NBC, ABC)
- KTUL — Tulsa, Okla. (ABC)
- WJLA — Washington, DC (ABC)
Nexstar ABC Affiliates (No Longer Preempted)
- WKRN – Nashville, TN (ABC)
- KTVX – Salt Lake City, UT (ABC)
- WTNH – Hartford / New Haven, CT (ABC)
- WHTM – Harrisburg, PA (ABC)
- WOTV – Grand Rapids, MI (ABC, CW)
- WGNO – New Orleans, LA (ABC)
- WRIC – Richmond, VA (ABC)
- WATE – Knoxville, TN (ABC)
- WTEN – Albany, NY (ABC)
- WSYR – Syracuse, NY (ABC)
- WVNY – Burlington, VT (ABC)
- WJHL – Tri-Cities, TN-VA (ABC, CBS)
- WJBF – Augusta, GA (ABC, CW)
- WEHT – Evansville, IN (ABC)
- WLAJ – Lansing, MI (ABC, CW)
- WYTV – Youngstown, OH (ABC)
- WTVO – Rockford, IL (ABC)
- KAMC – Lubbock, TX (ABC)
- KTKA – Topeka, KS (ABC, CW)
- KMID – Midland / Odessa, TX (ABC)
- WMBB – Panama City, FL (ABC, CW)
- KCAU – Sioux City, IA (ABC)
- KODE – Joplin, MO (ABC)
- WJET – Erie, PA (ABC)
- WAWV – Terre Haute, IN (ABC)
- WIVT – Binghamton, NY (ABC, NBC)
- WBGH-CD – Binghamton, NY (ABC, NBC)
- WTRF – Wheeling, WV - Steubenville, OH (ABC, CBS)
- KSVI – Billings, MT (ABC, CW+)
- WDHN – Dothan, AL (ABC)
- WUTR – Utica, NY (ABC)
- WBOY – Clarksburg / Weston, WV (ABC, NBC)
- WWTI – Watertown, NY (ABC, CW)