In a surprising turn of events, one of the two corporate stewards of ABC’s affiliate stations, the Trump-allied Sinclair Broadcast Group, has reversed its initial decision and will air *Jimmy Kimmel Live* again starting this Friday.
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Sinclair made their intentions clear in an official statement:
Our goal throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the broadest possible audience. We take our duty as local broadcasters seriously, ensuring that our programming serves community interests while also fulfilling our responsibilities to broadcast national network content.
In the past week, we’ve actively listened to feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders with diverse viewpoints. The recent, alarming incidents, such as the shooting at an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, have illustrated the importance of responsible broadcasting and the crucial need for respectful dialogue among differing perspectives.
As part of our ongoing discussions with ABC, Sinclair proposed enhancements aimed at improving accountability, viewer feedback, and community engagement, which includes the establishment of a network-wide independent ombudsman. While these measures have yet to be adopted by ABC and Disney, Sinclair acknowledges their autonomy in decision-making per our affiliate agreements. Nevertheless, we believe such initiatives could bolster trust and accountability.
It’s crucial to clarify that our decision to withhold this programming was made independently, free from any governmental interference. Free speech allows broadcasters to determine the content on their platforms. While we recognize that opinions on our programming decisions vary, it stands contrary to advocate for free speech while simultaneously compelling broadcasters to air specific shows.
As a company inherently rooted in local broadcasting, Sinclair is devoted to providing content that resonates with community priorities, builds trust, and encourages constructive dialogue. We anticipate collaborative efforts with ABC to broadcast diverse content that caters to a wide array of our audience’s interests.
Sinclair’s initial attempt to suppress *Kimmel* stemmed from a desire for concessions from ABC, which were firmly declined. Ultimately, Sinclair had to reverse its decision due to contractual obligations with ABC, necessitating the resumption of airing *Jimmy Kimmel Live* at some point.
The crux of this situation was viewer backlash. Sinclair stations faced considerable pressure from audience demands to return *Kimmel* to their screens. Furthermore, the stations risked revenue loss, having replaced *Kimmel* with reruns of *Celebrity Family Feud*, which likely attracted a fraction of the viewership.
This scenario illustrates a win for free speech, as even Sinclair had to concede to the collective demands of the viewing public.
Meanwhile, Trump’s influence in seeking *Kimmel*’s removal has largely dissipated. While Nexstar continues to withhold the show, sustained public pressure suggests that popular will is prevailing.
What are your thoughts on Sinclair’s reversal? We welcome your comments below.
