Conservative broadcaster Sinclair is putting Jimmy Kimmel Live! back on the air. In a statement today, Sinclair said it will end its preemption of the show on its ABC affiliates starting tonight, even though ABC and owner Disney haven't accepted its request for an ombudsman and other changes.
Facing the threat of lost advertising dollars, Sinclair said it "received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives." Nexstar separately announced an end to its blackout of Kimmel shortly after this article published.
Sinclair said its decision to preempt Kimmel "was independent of any government interaction or influence." Sinclair's preempting of Kimmel last week came just as Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said TV station owners that didn't preempt the show could lose their FCC licenses.
Sinclair last week said it wouldn't air Kimmel on its stations "until formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network's commitment to professionalism and accountability." Sinclair at the time praised Carr for his stance against Kimmel and urged the FCC to "take immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks."
Sinclair also announced it would air a special in remembrance of Kirk in Kimmel's time slot, but then decided to put it on YouTube instead.
Ombudsman and other requests “not yet adopted”
Sinclair said it didn't get anything it asked for in its discussions with ABC. The company's statement today said:
In our ongoing and constructive discussions with ABC, Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman. These proposals were suggested as collaborative efforts between the ABC affiliates and the ABC network. 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. Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence. Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations. While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.
Sinclair's request for an ombudsman is reminiscent of Carr requiring an ombudsman at CBS in exchange for a merger approval. Carr described the CBS ombudsman as a "bias monitor."