Jimmy Kimmel Live! is back in its late-night slot on ABC, but certain television stations run by Sinclair Broadcast Group will not air the show. The media conglomerate owns multiple stations associated with ABC and announced that Jimmy Kimmel is still “pre-empted” from airing on its channels. So, what exactly is Sinclair, and what is its significance in the television industry?
The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, and Kimmel were negotiating his return during his week-long suspension. A spokesperson for the company announced on September 22, 2025, “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
Get a breakdown of Sinclair Broadcast Group’s stations, influence on television and more below.
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 22, 2025
The following list includes some of the markets that Sinclair has ABC’s stations in:
In addition to ABC, Sinclair is also associated with Fox, NBC, CBS, MyNetworkTV, The CW and The CW Plus.
Sinclair owns four digital multicast networks: Comet, Charge!, The Nest and Roar.
