Overview

• ABC reported 6.2–6.3 million linear viewers for Tuesday’s comeback despite preemptions by Nexstar and Sinclair that blocked roughly 20–23% of U.S. households.
• Disney reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! after a multi-day suspension and “thoughtful conversations” following his Sept. 15 remarks about Charlie Kirk’s killing.
• Digital interest exploded, with more than 26 million views for Tuesday’s monologue across social and YouTube and strong follow-up viewing on Wednesday.
• President Trump threatened to “test ABC” with legal action and referenced a past payout, while a free-speech attorney said the campaign-finance claim lacks merit.
• FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly pushed stations to drop the show, intensifying free-speech concerns, and some analysts urged Disney to prioritize streaming to limit broadcast-license risk.