Overview
- Dana Walden told Bloomberg’s Screentime on Thursday that she would not announce Jimmy Kimmel’s long-term future and called late-night television a “very challenging” daypart.
- Kimmel remains under a one-year contract that runs through the 2026–27 season after signing an extension in December 2025, so no final decision has been made about 2027 and beyond.
- ABC has rejected recent reports that the show will definitely end and described those stories as speculative while sources say formal talks about renewal are underway.
- Reporting indicates Disney and ABC are pressing for material budget reductions to keep the show on air, with one industry source estimating a target of roughly 20 percent in cuts.
- Executives cite a growing gap between large online clip audiences and the much stronger revenue of linear TV ads, plus last year’s suspension and an early FCC review, all of which increase the financial and regulatory pressures shaping any deal and potential format changes that would affect Kimmel’s staff.