The suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” by Nexstar Media is creating quite a dilemma for Disney CEO Bob Iger. Yet, it’s not quite enough to sway the regulators in favor of the contentious $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, a rival broadcaster.
Irving, based in Texas, announced on Wednesday that the show’s broadcast would remain on hold. This comes after Kimmel’s return to ABC late Tuesday. The merger faces significant obstacles, particularly in light of resistance from Republicans on Capitol Hill, as well as two conservative news networks and Newsmax, which is led by CEO Chris Ruddy—someone with strong connections to prominent GOP politicians, including former President Trump.
There’s an argument out there that Kimmel’s ongoing suspension, particularly following his recent apologies regarding false allegations about Charlie Kirk, might be interpreted as a sign of the White House’s concern over perceived left-leaning biases in programming. Critics suggest that when Nexstar manipulates the local broadcasting landscape, it raises alarms about bias.
Sources indicate that these criticisms are gaining traction within the White House and among Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials.
A media insider close to the White House noted, “The Trump administration doesn’t think that no matter how much Nexstar suspends Kimmel, they will get approval for this merger.”
Nexstar is a significant player in the local television market, even without the Tegna acquisition, and holds about three dozen ABC affiliates, allowing them to broadcast a variety of content, including Kimmel’s late-night show.
In their statement on Wednesday, Nexstar mentioned they are still assessing Kimmel’s status on ABC affiliates and will continue to preempt his show during this evaluation.
Nexstar also emphasized that their executives are actively working with Disney to ensure the program reflects the diverse interests of the communities they serve.
Meanwhile, ABC and Disney reinstated Kimmel after a five-day hiatus prompted by his previous remarks. He accused right-wing figures of attempting to exploit Kirk’s tragedy for political gain.
In this context, both Nexstar and Sinclair, a competing local broadcaster with conservative leanings, have indefinitely halted Kimmel’s show. Both companies require regulatory approval for their licenses and mergers, with connections to Trump’s administration complicating matters.
FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr has hinted that local and national broadcasters, particularly those using public airwaves, should adhere to standards of “public interest.” He has suggested withholding license approvals if broadcasters don’t demonstrate more balanced programming.
Insiders suggest that Nexstar hopes the suspension of Kimmel will satisfy the FCC’s demands for balance. Publicly, major broadcasters are stating there’s no link between this suspension and the approval of the Tegna deal; however, many in the media community are skeptical about this claim.
On the flip side, Ruddy has voiced concerns over Nexstar’s reliability due to their handling of Kimmel’s suspension and has found common ground with congressional members and regulatory officials linked to Trump.
Ruddy also noted that Nexstar has allowed Kimmel to criticize Trump for years. The broadcaster owns Cable Network News Nation, which features notable personalities, including former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.
Additionally, he pointed out that the newly merged entity will have a reach to almost 80% of U.S. households, which surpasses the government’s current cap of 39% meant to encourage local broadcasting competitiveness.
It’s clear there are tensions and complexities regarding this potential merger, alongside the implications of Kimmel’s programming.
Iger did not return requests for comment regarding this situation.
