(NEXSTAR) — Sinclair Broadcast Group is bringing Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show back to its ABC affiliate stations on Friday night, ending a dayslong TV blackout for dozens of cities across the U.S. over remarks the comedian made in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing.
“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” Sinclair said in a statement Friday afternoon. “We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming.”
In the statement, Sinclair referenced “thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives,” as well as “troubling acts of violence” like a shooting into the lobby of a Sacramento station.
“These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important,” the statement said.
Disney-owned ABC suspended Kimmel on Sept. 17, following threats of potential repercussions from the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission. Nexstar, the parent company of this station, had announced it would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” before ABC’s decision, and Sinclair also condemned the host. And even after Disney brought Kimmel back to its national airways on Tuesday, both Sinclair and Nexstar continued to preempt the show.
As a result, viewers in cities like Washington, D.C., and Seattle had been left without the late-night program on local TV. The blackouts escalated nationwide uproar around First Amendment protections — particularly as President Donald Trump’s administration and other conservatives police speech after Kirk’s killing, and also cast a spotlight on political influence in the media landscape, with critics lambasting companies that they accuse of censoring content.
Nexstar did not immediately release a statement following Sinclair’s announcement Friday.
While local TV affiliates broadcast their own programming, such as local news, they also contract with larger national broadcasters — and pay them to air their national content, splitting advertising revenue and fees from cable companies.
Sinclair said “constructive” discussions with ABC were ongoing, and said its proposals to the network to strengthen accountability, feedback and dialogue and appoint an ombudsman had not yet been adopted. An email seeking comment from representatives for ABC was not immediately answered.
In a statement Monday, ABC explained the initial decision to pull Kimmel’s show was “made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” the statement continued.
Kimmel’s first monologue after suspension
In his return to late-night on Tuesday, Kimmel didn’t ignore the elephant in the room, making his suspension the focus of his opening monologue.
“I do want to make something clear because it’s important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said.
“I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion. And I meant it. I still do. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what…it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make,” he continued.
Kimmel said he understood those who were upset with his comments and condemned violence. He also praised Erika Kirk’s eulogy at her husband’s memorial over the weekend.
“On Sunday, Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him. That is an example we should follow,” said Kimmel. “If you believe in the teachings of Jesus as I do, there it was. That’s, that’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply. And I hope it touches many. And if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that.”
In an interview with Nexstar, Vice President JD Vance said he wasn’t entirely won over.
“I watched it and look, in some ways it was kind of kind-hearted,” Vance said in an interview with Nexstar’s Reshad Hudson on Wednesday. “On the other hand, he didn’t actually say sorry to Charlie Kirk or his family.”
Michael Bartiromo and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
