Nexstar Media (NASDAQ:NXST), the largest local television station owner in the United States, said Tuesday its owned and partner TV stations affiliated with Disney’s ABC (NYSE:DIS) will continue to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! while monitoring the show as it returns to the network after a six-day suspension.
The update from Nexstar comes after the media and entertainment giant’s TV network decided to revoke Kimmel’s suspension following criticism from free speech advocates from both sides of the political aisle, with many calling for a boycott of Disney and its streaming service, Disney+.
“We made a decision last week to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ill-timed and insensitive comments at a critical time in our national discourse. We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve,” Nexstar said in a public statement.
“In the meantime, we note that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets,” they added.
FCC Chair Brendam Carr, who had backed ABC’s decision on suspending Kimmel, has also recently said his regulatory agency has the right to interfere with TV broadcasters, and they have to meet “public service” obligations because of the tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer value granted to them for free.
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