Overview

• Sinclair ended its preemption and said the late-night show will return to its ABC stations Friday evening after a week-plus blackout.
• ABC/Disney brought the show back earlier this week following a brief suspension, and the return episode drew about 6.3 million TV viewers with roughly 26 million social views of Kimmel’s monologue.
• Nexstar continues to preempt the program on about 30 ABC affiliates and says it is evaluating the show in ongoing talks with Disney.
• Sinclair said its decision was independent of any government influence, proposed accountability steps such as a network-wide ombudsman, and previously sought an apology and donation that were not made.
• The company cited feedback from viewers and advertisers and referenced a recent shooting at an ABC station in Sacramento; Friday’s airing on Sinclair stations is a rerun of Tuesday’s return episode.