Sinclair announced on September 26, 2025, that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to its ABC affiliates that evening—even though ABC and Disney had not adopted the measures Sinclair had proposed. The station group’s preemption had lasted just over a week, according to The Associated Press. Sinclair said its decision to end the blackout reflected its own judgment; the move unfolded amid public warnings from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, but the available accounts do not establish that Sinclair acted at government direction.
Why did Sinclair put Jimmy Kimmel back on?
Sinclair said it was ending its preemption and restoring the program to its ABC affiliates on September 26. In its announcement, the company said it had received feedback from viewers, advertisers and community leaders, and described the decision to preempt the show as independent of government interaction or influence. Those are Sinclair’s stated explanations, not independent findings about what motivated the company.
The company also said ABC and Disney had not adopted its proposed accountability measures. Sinclair wrote: “While ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures, and Sinclair respects their right to make those decisions under our network affiliate agreements, we believe such measures could strengthen trust and accountability.” The full statement is available from Sinclair.
Did ABC agree to Sinclair’s demands?
No—not by the time Sinclair announced the return. Sinclair’s statement expressly said the proposed measures had not been adopted. The Associated Press reported that Sinclair had asked Kimmel to apologize to the family of Charlie Kirk and make a meaningful personal donation to Turning Point USA. Sinclair’s return announcement, meanwhile, discussed network accountability proposals, including an independent ombudsman. These were distinct requests and proposals; the announcement did not say ABC had accepted them or that Kimmel had made the requested apology or donation.
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Ars Technica also reported that Sinclair had sought an independent ombudsman and other accountability measures, and that ABC had not accepted them at the time of the return announcement. That account is consistent with Sinclair’s own statement about the proposals not being adopted.
How long were Sinclair stations off the air with Kimmel?
The blackout lasted just over a week, according to AP. The key dates show how the national broadcast and local affiliate decisions diverged:
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| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 17, 2025 | ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live!; Sinclair and Nexstar affiliates preempted the show after Carr’s public warnings about possible repercussions, AP reported. |
| September 23, 2025 | The program returned to ABC’s national schedule, while Sinclair and Nexstar continued local preemptions for several more days, according to AP. |
| September 26, 2025 | Sinclair announced the show would return to its affiliates that evening; Nexstar also announced a return, AP reported. |
AP’s September 26 report said the return covered Sinclair’s 38 local markets and Nexstar’s 28 ABC affiliates. Those are figures reported at the time, not a current station inventory. Read the Associated Press report.
How did the FCC warnings fit into the controversy?
The timing placed the affiliate preemptions amid Carr’s public criticism of Kimmel. AP reported that Carr accused Kimmel of appearing to mislead the public and warned ABC and its affiliates about possible repercussions. Ars Technica reported Carr said broadcasters airing Kimmel could face fines or license revocation if programming became a pattern of news distortion.
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Sinclair publicly denied government influence over its preemption. The reported warnings are relevant context, but they do not by themselves prove the company acted at the government’s direction; neither the cited coverage nor Sinclair’s statement establishes that conclusion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is ABC’s later FCC license dispute a ruling on Sinclair’s 2025 decision?
No. In a separate matter, AP reported on October 6, 2026, that ABC’s challenge to early FCC license review remained pending after a hearing; the judge had not immediately ruled on ABC’s request for a preliminary injunction. That litigation concerns ABC’s license review, not a determination of why Sinclair preempted or restored Kimmel’s show in 2025. See the Associated Press report on the pending dispute.
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