Columbus Viewers Remain in the dark as ABC 6 Chooses Not to Air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Return
Columbus,OH - local ABC affiliate WSYX-ABC 6 will not broadcast the return of Jimmy Kimmel live! on Tuesday,September 24,joining a growing number of stations preempting the show following a brief production suspension and controversy surrounding host Jimmy Kimmel’s recent monologue. The decision by station owner Sinclair Broadcast group leaves Columbus-area viewers without local access to the late-night programme.
The move comes after Disney, the parent company of ABC, announced it woudl reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! following “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel regarding comments deemed “ill-timed and thus insensitive” in the wake of ongoing national events. Despite Disney’s decision to bring the show back, Sinclair, which owns or operates 38 ABC affiliates, stated it would replace Jimmy Kimmel Live! with news programming. Nextstar Media, owner of WCMH-TV NBC 4, has also confirmed its ABC affiliates will not air the show.
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” Jessica Bellucci, a spokesperson for sinclair, said in a September 22 email to The Dispatch. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live! typically airs weekdays at 11:35 p.m. eastern. Viewers in columbus will need to explore alternative options, such as streaming or watching on ABC stations in othre markets, to view the program.
