Overview

• ABC reported 6.26 million broadcast viewers for Kimmel’s comeback episode, the show’s biggest regularly scheduled audience in more than a decade, plus over 26 million views of the monologue on social platforms.
• Roughly 23% of U.S. households could not watch on local ABC stations as Nexstar and Sinclair continued to preempt the program, though both companies said talks with Disney are ongoing.
• Kimmel’s emotional monologue defended free speech, clarified that he did not intend to make light of Charlie Kirk’s killing, and praised Erika Kirk for offering public forgiveness.
• President Trump renewed attacks on ABC and suggested legal action over the reinstatement, a move free‑speech experts characterized as lacking a solid basis.
• The showdown followed FCC commissioner Brendan Carr’s threats of possible regulatory consequences, intensifying industry concerns and prompting some financiers to urge Disney to move more TV content to streaming.