Core Viewpoint - Nexstar's unilateral decision to preempt Jimmy Kimmel's show has raised concerns about potential political motivations and the implications for its merger with Tegna [1][2][3] Group 1: Nexstar's Decision - Nexstar stated that the decision to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! was made unilaterally by its senior executive team without prior communication with the FCC or any government agency [1] - The company is facing criticism that the decision was influenced by a desire to gain favor with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, especially as it seeks FCC approval for its merger with Tegna [1][2] - Nexstar's president described Kimmel's comments as offensive and insensitive, asserting that continuing to air the show does not reflect the views of local communities [3] Group 2: Reactions and Implications - Following Nexstar's announcement, Disney suspended the show indefinitely, which has drawn criticism from various quarters, including Hollywood talent guilds and former President Barack Obama [4] - Carr's comments suggested that the FCC may take further action if companies do not address conduct like Kimmel's remarks, indicating potential regulatory scrutiny [2][3]

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].

The pace at which this happened is remarkable. Just take us through the timeline. Never look, Jimmy's comments or Kimmel comments were on his show Monday.We go through Tuesday without anything happening. There is some online outrage, of course, but but no comments from Disney or stations or anything like that. But then Wednesday, Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, went on Barry Johnson's podcast.Carr has been kind of have openly antagonized a lot of media companies, said that ...

(Bloomberg) -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said Jimmy Kimmel’s comments about the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk “appeared to mislead the public about a significant fact.” Speaking on CNBC on Thursday, Carr said: “Jimmy Kimmel is not Johnny Carson. It was not making fun of or pillorying me or the administration or the president. It was appearing to directly mislead the American public about a significant fact” about the assassination. Walt Disney Co.’s ABC netw ...

Core Viewpoint - ABC's suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" due to the host's comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk has led to significant backlash, including calls for boycotts of ABC and its parent company, Disney [1][4][15]. Group 1: Backlash and Boycotts - Social media users and influencers are actively promoting boycotts against ABC and Disney, with hashtags like BoycottDisney and BoycottABCNetwork trending on platforms such as X and Bluesky [1]. - Political commentator JoJoFromJerz urged her followers to boycott everything affiliated with ABC and Disney, leveraging her 1 million followers to amplify the message [2]. - Activist Wajahat Ali called for a "collective boycott" until Kimmel is reinstated, suggesting that the financial impact on corporations would compel them to reconsider their decisions [4]. Group 2: ABC's Decision and Reactions - ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after Kimmel's remarks about Kirk, which included accusations against the "MAGA gang" for exploiting Kirk's death for political gain, leading to outrage from conservative leaders [8][9]. - Sinclair, which owns numerous ABC affiliates, stated that Kimmel's show would not return until he personally apologizes to Kirk's widow and donates to the family and Turning Point USA [8]. - FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly pressured ABC to take action, warning that local affiliates could face regulatory scrutiny if the show continued to air [9][12]. Group 3: Kimmel's Response and Industry Impact - Kimmel reportedly expressed extreme frustration over the suspension and is exploring legal options to break from ABC [15]. - Former President Trump praised ABC's decision, calling it "Great News for America" and criticizing Kimmel as talentless [15][16].

Group 1 - The Walt Disney Company has indefinitely pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" from its ABC network following comments made by the host linking the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to Trump's MAGA movement [1] - This incident has drawn comparisons to CBS's earlier cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and raises concerns about free speech in the current media environment under Trump's influence [1][5] - Trump's scrutiny of media companies has intensified during his second term, characterized by high-profile defamation lawsuits and regulatory interference from the Federal Communications Commission [5] Group 2 - Kimmel's comments during his monologue criticized the MAGA movement for attempting to distance themselves from the actions of the alleged murderer [2] - Kimmel humorously remarked on Trump's response to Kirk's death, suggesting that the president's focus on a construction project was inappropriate for someone grieving a friend [3][4] - Anna Gomez, a Democratic FCC commissioner, expressed concerns about the government's use of power to suppress lawful expression and criticized the administration's actions regarding media companies [6]

Group 1 - The ongoing partisan divide in the United States is intensifying, with increasing concerns about the influence of "gatekeepers" in various institutions, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [1][2] - The rise of the internet and social media has transformed identity politics into a broader "culture war," affecting the business landscape and media discourse [2] - Recent controversies have involved major corporations like Cracker Barrel and ABC, with ABC's decision to pull "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" off the air following controversial remarks, highlighting the intersection of media and political discourse [3][4] Group 2 - FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has indicated that the agency may take action against TV broadcasters to ensure they operate in the public interest, emphasizing the need to avoid partisan bias in programming [4] - The FCC's role in regulating broadcasters is distinct from that of cable channels and streaming services, which do not have the same public interest obligations [4]

Group 1: Media and Entertainment - ABC Network has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely due to backlash over the host's remarks regarding the killing of Republican activist Charlie Kirk, with Nexstar Media Group stating the remarks were "offensive and insensitive" [3] - Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, indicated a strong case to punish Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for the comments made [3] - President Trump expressed approval of the suspension on social media, suggesting that NBC should also consider removing other late-night hosts [4] Group 2: Technology and AI - Huawei Technologies has announced a new AI chip roadmap, planning to release four new Ascend chips by 2028, aiming to challenge Nvidia's dominance in AI infrastructure [5][6] - The first chip, Ascend 950PR, is set to launch early next year, followed by the Ascend 950DT in late 2026, Ascend 960 in late 2027, and Ascend 970 in late 2028 [6] - The announcement comes after China's Cyberspace Administration banned major tech companies from purchasing Nvidia's AI chips, indicating a shift in the competitive landscape [6][7] Group 3: Food and Beverage - Krispy Kreme experienced a volatile trading day, ending with a 1.0% gain after FBI Director Kash Patel referred to it as a "good investment opportunity" during a congressional hearing [8] - The stock saw an increase of up to 8% during the day, with trading volume 50% above normal levels [9] - Patel had previously disclosed purchasing between $15,000 and $50,000 in Krispy Kreme shares, which has contributed to the stock's recent activity [9]

Group 1: Media and Entertainment - ABC Network has suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" indefinitely due to backlash over Kimmel's remarks about the killing of Republican activist Charlie Kirk, with Nexstar Media Group stating the remarks were "offensive and insensitive" [3] - President Trump expressed approval of the suspension on Truth Social, suggesting that NBC should also remove Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers from their programming [4] - Sinclair, the largest owner of ABC affiliates, confirmed it will keep Kimmel's program off the air [5] Group 2: Technology and AI - Huawei Technologies announced a new AI chip roadmap, planning to release four Ascend chips by 2028, aiming to challenge Nvidia's dominance in AI infrastructure [5][6] - The first chip, Ascend 950PR, is set to launch early next year, followed by Ascend 950DT in late 2026, Ascend 960 in late 2027, and Ascend 970 in late 2028 [6] - The Cyberspace Administration of China has banned major tech companies from purchasing Nvidia's AI chips, further positioning Huawei's new technology as a competitive alternative [6][7] Group 3: Food and Beverage - Krispy Kreme experienced a volatile trading day, ending with a 1.0% gain after FBI Director Kash Patel referred to it as a "good investment opportunity" during a House Judiciary Committee hearing [8] - The stock saw an increase of up to 8% during the day, with trading volume 50% above normal [9] - Patel had previously disclosed purchasing between $15,000 and $50,000 in Krispy Kreme shares, contributing to the stock's recent activity [9]

Core 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].