Overview

• The station groups ended their blackout announced on September 17 and the show is now carried across all ABC affiliates in the United States.
• ABC had brought Jimmy Kimmel back on September 23 after days of protests, while Nexstar and Sinclair initially kept the program off their channels.
• Both companies said their decision followed “constructive” discussions with Disney and they asserted the move was independent of any outside influence.
• Variety highlighted that FCC chair Brendan Carr had publicly criticized Kimmel and suggested licenses could be at risk, a backdrop as Nexstar seeks FCC approval for its planned Tegna acquisition.
• Since its return to the air, the show has recorded record audiences despite earlier carriage gaps.