Jimmy Kimmel Live! Will Not Return on Nexstar Stations as Second Major Affiliate Group Pulls the Plug Despite Disney’s Announcement
The ups and downs of late-night television took another surprising turn this week as Jimmy Kimmel Live! faced yet another hurdle, even after Disney announced the show’s long-awaited return. For fans who have been waiting eagerly to see Kimmel back at his desk, the news that Nexstar Media Group will continue to preempt the program on its stations felt like an unexpected letdown. The announcement came just as many were celebrating the show’s comeback, only to discover that one of the largest affiliate groups in the country had chosen to hold back the late-night favorite from its regular time slot.
Nexstar, which operates 32 ABC-affiliated stations across the country, confirmed on Monday night that it would not be carrying Jimmy Kimmel Live! despite its official return on Tuesday, September 23. The move immediately drew attention because it marks the second affiliate group to opt out of airing the program in the same week. For viewers who tune in faithfully each night, it raised questions about why a show with such a long history, running since 2003, is now facing pushback from its own distribution partners.
For years, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been a fixture of late-night comedy, known for blending celebrity interviews with skits, social commentary, and the kind of monologues that often drive headlines the next morning. His fan base has followed him through ups and downs, from the rise of viral sketches like “Mean Tweets” to political commentary that sometimes sparked heated debate. The program has always been at its best when it reflects the culture of the moment, offering laughs while also engaging with issues people talk about at home and on social media. That’s why the latest setback feels personal to so many fans — it’s not just about a time slot, but about losing a familiar presence in the late-night space.
Nexstar’s decision wasn’t accompanied by a lengthy explanation, but affiliate groups often make these calls based on a mixture of business interests, advertising strategies, and local programming choices. Still, the timing is striking. With Disney putting effort into bringing Kimmel back to television, viewers expected his return to be seamless, broadcast nationwide without hiccups. Instead, there’s an uneven rollout where some audiences will get to watch the comeback and others will find themselves left out, at least for now.
The story reflects the shifting landscape of modern television. Affiliates like Nexstar wield significant power in deciding what their local audiences get to see, and in an era where streaming platforms are gaining ground, network television faces constant pressure to keep programming profitable. Even a show as established as Jimmy Kimmel Live! is not immune to these forces. For Kimmel himself, who has weathered controversies and industry changes for decades, the latest challenge is another reminder that late-night is no longer as straightforward as it used to be.
For fans, the situation is bittersweet. On the one hand, the show is officially back, and those in markets outside of Nexstar’s control will still be able to enjoy Kimmel’s trademark humor. On the other hand, large sections of the country will be missing out, at least temporarily, creating a patchwork of access that underlines the challenges of television in 2024 and beyond. Viewers may still find ways to catch segments online through YouTube or social media, but the live connection of watching late-night as it airs isn’t quite the same.
What happens next is uncertain. Disney has shown it wants Jimmy Kimmel Live! to continue, and the demand from fans is clearly there. The affiliate standoff, however, demonstrates how fragile broadcast distribution can be when multiple players with different priorities are involved. Whether Nexstar eventually reconsiders its decision or holds firm, the moment highlights how even long-standing institutions in entertainment must keep adjusting to an unpredictable industry.
For now, Jimmy Kimmel is once again in the spotlight, though not in the way he or his team likely hoped for. The comeback is happening, but with caveats. For his loyal audience, the hope is that this is just a bump in the road and that Kimmel’s familiar voice will soon return to every screen it was meant to reach. Until then, fans will have to rely on the clips, the headlines, and the humor that always manages to find its way out, even when the broadcast signals don’t.
