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What to know about Nexstar as ABC pulls Kimmel indefinitely
Fox Businessยท 2025-09-18 21:11
Core Viewpoint - ABC has indefinitely preempted Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show following controversial comments he made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, prompted by Nexstar Media Group's decision to stop airing the show [1][11]. Group 1: Company Actions - Nexstar Media Group, which owns 32 ABC affiliate stations, expressed strong objections to Kimmel's comments and announced the preemption of his show for the foreseeable future [2][4]. - ABC, owned by Disney, confirmed the indefinite preemption of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in response to Nexstar's announcement [1][11]. - Nexstar's president stated that continuing to air Kimmel's show is not in the public interest at this time, aiming to foster respectful dialogue [5][4]. Group 2: Company Background - Nexstar Media Group is the largest local television broadcasting group in the U.S., operating over 200 stations and serving 220 million people across 116 markets [6]. - The company owns 75% of The CW network and also operates NewsNation and other digital news outlets [6]. Group 3: Financial Context - Nexstar recently announced a $6.2 billion deal to acquire Tegna, which is expected to enhance local news viability and political advertising revenue [8][9]. - The acquisition requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and will increase Nexstar's affiliate network in key election markets [9]. Group 4: Industry Reactions - FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr supported Nexstar's decision, emphasizing the importance of broadcasters aligning with community values [11][14]. - The move has sparked criticism from free speech advocates, who argue that the FCC should not regulate content based on community standards [15].