Seattle Viewers Left Out: Sinclair pulls plug on Jimmy Kimmel comeback

While ABC is celebrating Jimmy Kimmel’s big return to late-night TV tonight, Seattle viewers won’t be seeing it.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns KOMO-TV, confirmed it will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on any of its 38 ABC affiliates, including Seattle. Instead, Sinclair says it will fill the slot with news programming. Nexstar also confirmed it will not broadcast the show on Tuesday night, either.

A Sinclair  spokesperson told CNN, “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.” But Sinclair made it clear they’re not budging unless Kimmel apologizes to Charlie Kirk’s family and donates to both them and Turning Point USA.

What will Jimmy Kimmel say when he returns?

The decision comes after Kimmel’s suspension earlier this month for grotesque comments about Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10. Kimmel claimed conservatives were trying to “capitalize” on Kirk’s murder and smeared MAGA supporters as desperate to distance themselves from the killer.

ABC defended Kimmel on Monday, claiming they’d had “thoughtful conversations” before reinstating him. The network framed it as a win for free speech.

But neither Sinclair nor Nexstar are buying the spin. They’re standing firm, showing rare accountability in a media landscape where offensive attacks on conservatives usually come with no consequence.

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