The Economic Times·2025-09-18 00:44Core Viewpoint - ABC has decided to indefinitely pre-empt "Jimmy Kimmel Live" following controversial comments made by Kimmel regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which have drawn criticism from various political figures and media companies [1][13]. Group 1: Company Actions - Nexstar Media Group, the largest local television and media company in the U.S., announced it would stop airing "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on its 32 ABC affiliates due to Kimmel's remarks, labeling them as offensive and insensitive [2][13]. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr has urged local broadcasters to cease airing the show and suggested potential investigations and penalties for those that continue to broadcast content deemed distorted [7][13]. Group 2: Political Context - Kimmel's comments were made in the context of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative figure, which has become a focal point in the current political discourse [4][5][13]. - Trump has publicly criticized Kimmel and has pressured media companies to stop airing content he finds objectionable, indicating a broader trend of political influence over media content [6][10][13]. Group 3: Viewership Trends - "Jimmy Kimmel Live" averaged 1.57 million viewers per episode during the last broadcast season, while "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" led with 1.9 million viewers, reflecting a decline in viewership for late-night shows as audiences shift to streaming platforms [11][13].