Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air, but viewers across western and central Nebraska won’t see him on their local ABC stations.
ABC brought Jimmy Kimmel Live! back Monday, less than a week after suspending the late-night show over controversy surrounding Kimmel’s remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network said internal discussions led to the decision to reinstate the program.
But two of the nation’s largest station groups—Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group—say they will continue to preempt the show on their ABC affiliates. Together, those companies own roughly one-quarter of ABC stations nationwide.
That includes Nebraska Television Network (NTV), which operates ABC affiliates KHGI in Kearney, KWNB in Hayes Center and their translators serving North Platte, Ogallala and much of western and central Nebraska. Sinclair owns the network, and as a result, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is being replaced with other programming on those stations.
The move means many Nebraska viewers, particularly in the western half of the state, won’t see Kimmel’s return on traditional broadcast. By contrast, Lincoln’s ABC affiliate, KLKN, is not owned by Sinclair and is expected to continue carrying the show as normal.
Nexstar and Sinclair both say their decisions stem from concerns over Kimmel’s recent remarks. Nexstar called them “ill-timed and insensitive,” while Sinclair said it wants a “formal dialogue” with ABC about promoting “constructive dialogue” in programming.
The dispute underscores the influence local affiliates hold over what reaches viewers, even when a network reinstates a show. Analysts warn the preemptions could affect ratings and advertising reach, especially in mid-sized markets.
Kimmel, one of late night’s longest-serving hosts, has not publicly addressed the suspension or the affiliate backlash. ABC has not said whether content guidelines will change moving forward.
For Nebraska fans in places like North Platte and Ogallala, that leaves few options outside of streaming or ABC’s digital platforms if they want to keep up with Kimmel’s return.