Sinclair, Nexstar, and the Strange Case of Jimmy Kimmel: Behind the Curtain of America’s Local TV Power Struggle

For nearly a week, one of America’s most recognizable late-night hosts vanished from millions of screens. Jimmy Kimmel, a veteran of network television and an institution in ABC’s lineup, was suddenly yanked from viewers in a move that seemed as abrupt as it was baffling.

The culprits? Two of the most powerful local television station owners in the country—Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group—who preempted Jimmy Kimmel Live! from airing on their ABC-affiliate stations. Together, the two companies control an enormous swath of the U.S. media landscape: Sinclair owns over 185 stations across 85 markets, while Nexstar boasts 200 stations spanning 116 markets. Combined, they hold 70 ABC affiliates, and their decision effectively cut off about 25% of American TV households from Kimmel’s nightly broadcast.

The show eventually returned, but the episode left more questions than answers. Why did these broadcasting giants really pull the plug on Kimmel? And what does the controversy say about the future of television, politics, and free speech in the United States?

A Calculated “Pause”—Or Something More Sinister?

On the surface, the explanation seemed simple. Sinclair and Nexstar claimed they were acting in response to “viewer feedback” and “community concerns,” positioning themselves as defenders of accuracy, engagement, and balance. Sinclair even went as far as proposing that ABC install an independent ombudsman to police content—a demand that Disney (ABC’s parent company) flatly rejected.

But skeptics argue that the companies’ explanations feel too neat, too rehearsed. Why would two broadcasting behemoths, whose revenue streams depend on keeping viewers tuned in, choose to block one of late night’s biggest draws? Why act in lockstep, as though coordinated, just as political pressure around Kimmel’s comments reached a fever pitch?

The FCC Shadow Looms

The timing could not be more suspicious. Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), had publicly blasted Kimmel over controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing. Carr even hinted that broadcasters might face “regulatory consequences” if they failed to address the matter.

For Nexstar, this was no idle threat. The company is currently seeking FCC approval for a merger with Tegna, another giant in local TV. The deal would give Nexstar a footprint so large that it bumps against federal limits on how much of the national audience a single broadcaster can reach. FCC approval is critical—and Carr’s warning landed like a political thunderclap.

Could Nexstar’s preemption of Kimmel have been a strategic move to appease regulators, to show “good faith” compliance? And if so, did Sinclair, ever a kingmaker in conservative media circles, see an opportunity to flex its muscle by joining in?

Enter Donald Trump

The plot thickened when Donald Trump himself weighed in on Truth Social. He cheered ABC’s initial suspension of Kimmel, calling it “the courage to do what had to be done,” before mocking the network for bringing him back. Then came the kicker: Trump boasted about a $16 million payout from Disney in a defamation settlement last December, suggesting he still knows how to extract concessions from the entertainment titan.

The implication was unmistakable. Trump wanted Kimmel off the air, Trump had history with Disney, and Trump was not shy about flexing his influence. When Sinclair and Nexstar extended their preemptions even after ABC announced Kimmel’s return, it looked less like coincidence and more like compliance.

The Companies Push Back

Publicly, both Sinclair and Nexstar insisted their decisions were free from political interference. Sinclair framed the move as a matter of “free speech,” asserting that broadcasters, too, have the right to decide what content they air. “It is inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding broadcasters air specific content,” the company said.

Yet Sinclair’s record complicates that defense. In recent years, the company has repeatedly drawn fire for its overtly conservative messaging, most infamously when it forced local anchors nationwide to recite scripts about “fake news” and “one-sided stories,” echoing Donald Trump’s talking points during his first presidency. Critics argue the company has long blurred the line between local journalism and political advocacy.

As for Nexstar, its merger ambitions make it uniquely vulnerable. With so much at stake before the FCC, the company has every incentive to play nice with regulators—especially a chair openly hostile to Kimmel.

Who Really Calls the Shots?

The entire saga raises unsettling questions about who holds the real power in American television. For all the attention paid to streaming giants and social media, local broadcasters still control access to tens of millions of households. When two companies—acting simultaneously—can erase a major network program from a quarter of the country, it reveals just how concentrated and fragile the media ecosystem has become.

ABC itself looked weak throughout. The network initially paused Kimmel “indefinitely,” only to cave to pressure and reinstate him days later. By then, the damage was done: Sinclair and Nexstar had demonstrated they could override the network’s authority whenever they pleased.

A Dangerous Precedent

At its core, this is not just about Jimmy Kimmel, late-night comedy, or even one round of inflammatory remarks. It is about precedent. If local station owners can preempt programming whenever political winds shift, what stops them from silencing other voices? What happens when pressure comes not from the FCC, but from advertisers, advocacy groups, or even a phone call from a former president?

Sinclair and Nexstar say they acted in the interest of their communities. But many viewers are left wondering whether those “communities” really mean the American public—or the political elite who hold the keys to regulation and influence.

The Unfinished Story

For now, Kimmel is back on the air, cracking jokes and carrying on as if nothing happened. But the shadow lingers. Sinclair and Nexstar have not backed away from their claims of editorial independence, nor have they promised not to preempt again. The FCC chair has not clarified whether he still intends to scrutinize Kimmel’s comments. And Trump, predictably, remains in the wings, taking victory laps and threatening more battles to come.

In the end, the saga of Jimmy Kimmel’s disappearance is less about comedy and more about control. Behind the laughter lies a sobering truth: America’s media is at the mercy of a handful of corporations, political regulators, and powerful personalities who are unafraid to weaponize the airwaves.

And the next time they pull the plug, the audience may not get their show back.