Sinclair ends ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ boycott in US

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Friday it will end a blackout of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and resume airing the late-night program on its ABC affiliate stations.

“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, adding it had received “thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders” during the blackout.

The company cited “troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station” in the state of California, saying it underscored the importance of “responsible broadcasting” and respectful dialogue.

Sinclair said it proposed that ABC adopt new accountability measures, including an independent ombudsman, though it noted the network has yet to agree.

Nexstar Media Group, which also preempted Kimmel, also said it will resume airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates beginning Friday night.

The company said it appreciated Disney’s “constructive approach” to address its concerns and stressed its commitment to “protecting the First Amendment” of the US Constitution and broadcasting content “in the best interest of the communities we serve.”

The blackout stemmed from Kimmel’s Sept. 15 remarks about the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which led to his suspension last week. On his show, Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of exploiting the incident for political gain, referring to the "Make America Great Again" that Trump popularized during his first run for president.

Returning to the air Tuesday, Kimmel nearly broke down in tears as he sought to clarify his remarks. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” he said.

“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual -- that was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make,” Kimmel added.