Viewers of local TV stations run by broadcast giants Nexstar and Sinclair can expect to see Jimmy Kimmel on their screens again soon – whether they like his jokes or not, media insiders told The Post.
Indeed, it’s likely only a matter of days before both the two companies that own dozens of ABC affiliate stations nationwide cave – and end their suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” over its host’s incendiary and misleading remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, sources said.
That’s because Disney is expected to use its clout to pressure both companies to abide by their so-called affiliate agreements with ABC. These megabuck contracts prescribe the fee schedule that local broadcasters like Nexstar and Sinclair pay to run national programming – along with the conditions that must be met to cancel shows.
They are among the largest sources of revenue for networks including ABC, a unit of the Disney entertainment empire headed by CEO Bob Iger. With Kimmel’s show yanked from dozens of media markets across the US, national advertisers will begin demanding lower rates or rebates, forcing Iger to take legal action or other coercive measures.
“This is coming to an end – sooner rather than later,” said one veteran media executive with knowledge of the matter. “Iger knows the advertising pressure he’s going to face if Nexstar and Sinclair don’t bring back Kimmel, which means he will pull out all the stops to get Kimmel back on air.”
Reps for Disney, Sinclair and Nexstar didn’t return requests for comment.
Affiliate agreements do give broadcasters like Sinclair and Nexstar some ability to throttle programming from the big networks through what is known as a “right to reject” clause. Back in 2018, some affiliate stations refused to air the sitcom “Roseanne” when allegedly racist comments made by Roseanne Barr emerged.
And yes – Nexstar needs approval from the Trump Federal Communications Commission for its purchase of rival broadcaster Tegna. Sinclair, likewise, is always in deal mode and in need of regulatory OKs, and Trump FCC chair Brendan Carr has said he would throttle deals of local broadcasters that air false commentary.
Kimmel’s commentary was certainly noxious. Last week he inaccurately stated that the “MAGA gang” was looking to capitalize on Kirk’s assassination by making the killer out to be “anything other than one of them.” The actual killer despised Kirk’s conservative politics.
But media insiders say Nexstar and Sinclair face even bigger problems from the Disney side if they keep him off the air. Both signed their agreements fully aware of Kimmel’s hyper-partisan and anti-Trump political humor. Disney could argue the continued suspension of Kimmel violates their agreement. That’s after Kimmel, while not making an apology, at least said nice things about Kirk’s widow after ABC lifted its own suspension on Tuesday.
Disney has other tools in its kit – and some of them are big. It could withhold essential programming like Monday Night Football, which airs both on ABC, and Disney’s ESPN cable sports channel.
Meanwhile, Iger is under pressure from his advertisers and his shareholders to force both networks — they control some 66 ABC affiliates in cities across 38 states — to reinstate Kimmel as soon as possible as the impasse threatens to blow a hole in Disney’s balance sheet.
Combined, both broadcasters control a huge swath of ABC affiliated networks; they allow ABC, for example, to charge significantly higher ad rates because of their reach into middle America including the average of 1.4 million Americans who watch Kimmel on average each night (Kimmel’s viewership shot up to more than 6 million the night he returned amid the controversy.)
Iger, a veteran media executive who has been running the House of Mouse off and on for the past 20 years, is loath to set a precedent where affiliate networks can pick and choose which programs to air and depress its all-important audience count it sells to advertisers at a moment’s notice.
Of course, just because Iger will likely prevail in this standoff doesn’t mean he’ll win any popularity contests elsewhere.
“I hate to be Bob Iger these days,” said one rival media CEO.
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