Kimmel boycott weakens as US TV company puts him back on air
One of the companies that began boycotting comedian Jimmy Kimmel after US government pressure said Friday it would start broadcasting his show again.
Disney-owned ABC took the late-night host off the air when Sinclair and another firm said they would no longer show his program on the dozens of stations they own, purportedly over remarks the comedian made in the wake of the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
But after a public outcry over freedom of speech, ABC reversed course, with Kimmel's return proving a huge ratings hit, even as the blackout meant a quarter of the country could not watch.
Sinclair -- which had previously demanded Kimmel make a personal donation to Kirk's activist group -- said Friday it would carry the show again with immediate effect.
"Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience," the company said.
"We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming."
There was no immediate word from Nexstar, the other firm that acted after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr appeared to threaten the licenses of stations broadcasting the show unless they demanded Kimmel's removal.
In a lengthy statement Sinclair said it had proposed a network-wide ombudsman who could referee complaints about content, but "ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures."
"Our decision to pre-empt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence," the company said.
"Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations. While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content."
President Donald Trump, who has long chafed at the mockery he receives from Kimmel and his fellow late night talk show hosts, has repeatedly demanded they be taken off air, and has called other criticism of him "illegal."
On his Tuesday night return, Kimmel took aim at the "anti-American" attempt to silence a comedian.
"The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs," he said.
"Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can't take a joke."
B.Fortunato--PV
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