Overview

• ABC said Tuesday’s broadcast drew about 6.2–6.3 million linear viewers, Kimmel’s biggest audience in over a decade, despite the show being unavailable in roughly 23% of U.S. households.
• The return monologue generated more than 15 million views on YouTube and over 26 million views across social platforms, according to the network.
• Nexstar and Sinclair continue to preempt the program on their ABC affiliates, with Nexstar saying it will keep evaluating the show while holding discussions with Disney.
• President Trump attacked the reinstatement and threatened to “test ABC,” while Kimmel responded on his second night back by calling the rhetoric a threat and defending free speech.
• FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly rebuked Kimmel’s earlier remarks, fueling a broader debate over government pressure, as some analysts urged Disney to shift emphasis toward streaming to reduce broadcast risk.