Debate Over ABC’s Decision to Suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s Show

The panel on the “Big Money Show” is discussing ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show, especially in light of his recent controversial remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Following his comments regarding a conservative activist’s assassination, ABC decided to pause “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” This move coincides with a noticeable drop in late-night TV viewership and advertising income.

ABC, which is a subsidiary of Disney, announced the decision on Wednesday. This came after a major media group, Nexstar, which owns several ABC affiliates, expressed that Kimmel’s program will be indefinitely sidelined. When Kimmel will return to the air remains uncertain.

It has been confirmed by Disney that CEO Bob Iger played a role in the decision to take Kimmel off-air.

This suspension follows the recent conclusion of the current season, particularly after CBS’s parent company, Paramount, decided to end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

While ABC hasn’t disclosed specific financial details regarding the profitability of its late-night programs, a report notes that insiders believe Colbert’s show was losing over $40 million annually. There are indications that declining viewership and advertising revenues are impacting other networks as well.

According to a report, viewership for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has plummeted about 72% over the last decade.

Analyzing data from Nielsen, it appears that Kimmel’s share among key demographics, particularly ages 18-49, has fallen from 0.68 during the 2013-14 season to just 0.16 for 2024-25. Comparatively, “The Late Show” had a demographic share of 0.18 in the same period, while “The Tonight Show” captured 0.13.

Understanding Nexstar’s Role in ABC’s Move

Research analysts observed that 2022 might be the last significant year for network TV as its audience continues to dwindle. Predictions suggest that the losses are likely to increase moving forward.

This decline in late-night TV audiences aligns with decreasing advertising revenue. Reports indicate that revenue for late-night shows across major networks fell from $439 million in 2018 to just $220 million last year.

Interestingly, the decision to pull Kimmel from the air has sparked strong reactions, notably among some liberal audiences.

Meanwhile, CBS has also decided against renewing Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show after the current season ends, following a trend of decreasing ratings across various late-night programs.

In an effort to stabilize finances, networks have also been trimming their late-night lineups. Last year, NBC made budget cuts that led to the dissolution of its late-night house band for Seth Meyers.

In another significant move, CBS opted to replace “The Late Late Show” after James Corden’s departure in 2023, marking a change that followed a variety of hosts who had taken the reins since 1995.