Jimmy Kimmel and Disney are working to reach a compromise that will allow “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to return to ABC.
According to three people with knowledge of the situation, the veteran host’s business and legal representatives are in depth discussions with Disney and ABC leaders in the hopes of finding a way to a compromise that would allow “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to return.
The host has not made public comments since the show was suddenly pulled out of the usual 11:35pm slot on September 17th. Disney, one of the largest owners of US television stations, says the program is out of “indefinitely.” Sinclair, the owner of another large station, said it also removed Kimmel from the station. Kimmel has been holding ABC late-night franchises since 2003 and has recently become a key face in the network as host of “Want to Be a Billionaire,” the Academy Awards and other specials.
There is no guarantee that Kimmel and Disney will build conditions on an agreement to return to the airwaves, these people warned. It is also not clear where Kimmel’s thinking stands in what he doesn’t accept from ABC as a condition that he will once again be on stage for “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Kimmel is understood to be mindful of the effects of being shut down to dozens of Los Angeles production staff and Los Angeles vendors working on the show, according to one source with knowledge of the situation. The host also recognizes that some staff and crews are still digging out of the financial holes created by the strike in 2023, which have been the writers and actors over the course of a few months.
A Disney representative declined to comment. Kimmel’s media representative did not respond to requests for comment.
The burnt-like situation around Kimmel unleashed a torrent of criticism about Disney from both sides. Free speech advocates have denounced the company’s swift move to broadcast Kimmel. Conservatives cheered, and Trump repeated his threat to encourage broadcast networks to lose their licenses to allow anti-Trump and anti-Maga voices on the air. Outside the Disney offices in New York and Burbank’s Disney offices, demonstrations exploded outside the Hollywood theatre complex where “Jimmy Kimmel Live” was produced.
There’s no doubt that Kimmel and Disney need to proceed with caution. The company needs many television stations to distribute “Jimmy Kimmel Live” throughout the US when it generates ratings that the network guarantees to advertisers. Ad spending on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” totaled $51.1 million in 2024, accounting for 21% of all ads in the late night program, according to data from Guidelines, an ad spending tracker.
It is understood that ABC and Disney’s Brass have been honouring Kimmel’s concerns for some time over the criticism of President Donald Trump and the keenness of the federal agency’s unprecedented acquisition. Kimmel, like other commentators, has not refrained from taking a light-heartedness against the Trump administration’s campaign with immigrants and customs enforcement officials to round out undocumented immigration allegations on the streets and in the workplace without considering the constitutional norms of justice.
At the same time, Kimmel’s remarks are about conservatives using Kirk’s death to create a political point and how, while talking to reporters, spurring the Republican crusades about President Trump’s calm response to the issue. FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr threatened to take action against ABC on Wednesday. After Disney’s decision was revealed, Kerr said in a social media statement that he “want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing.” “Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. This may be an unprecedented decision, but it is important for broadcasters to determine that pushing back Disney programming is not close to the community.” Since then, Carr has issued more statements suggesting they may look into other Disney shows like “The View.”
Just as the controversy swirled, Disney executives felt they had no choice but to slam Kimmel into the controversy that fueled them in the Maga media.
All media companies involved may be having issues during government review in the coming months. Nexstar is in the process of acquiring Tegna, the owner of another large television station, for a transaction that requires FCC approval. A Nexstar spokesperson said Carr’s comments had little to do with the decision to preempt Kimmel’s show. Last month, Sinclair published a “Comprehensive Strategic Review” of its broadcasting business. M&As involving local television stations are subject to FCC review and approval.
Disney also needs government permission to help the government move forward with some important business initiatives. The company is working to secure a deal offering a 10% stake in the giant ESPN sports media outlet to the National Football League, buy a majority stake in Fubo’s live streaming service and blend it with a similar product tied to the live viewing television network via its own Hulu.
Advocates of freedom of speech from both sides of the political aisle have denounced the move forcing Kimmel to show off. Both Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and the American Civil Liberties Union, suggest that the government should not silence American opposition.
Kimmel, who has been running a late-night program at ABC since 2003, believes in recent years he could resign from his midnight duties. Those who know him say he is closer to the end of his late-night tenure than he was in the beginning. However, he also knows the show will help with other Disney-backed activities, such as hosting current editions of ABC’s “I Want to Be a Billionaire” and other projects.
The host knew he had a better path to get to the exit, and Disney seemed interested in working with him to draw the map.
