“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has resumed airing on ABC affiliates owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group after a blackout that left many viewers unable to see the program for several days. The return marked the end of a turbulent period involving the network, its affiliates, and one of late-night television’s longest-running hosts.

The disruption followed comments made by Jimmy Kimmel in connection with the killing of a conservative activist. ABC responded by suspending the program temporarily while reviewing the matter. The network reinstated the late-night show soon after, restoring it to the national schedule. Despite the reinstatement, not all viewers could immediately see the broadcast, as several major station groups chose not to carry it when it returned.

Sinclair and Nexstar, two of the largest owners of ABC affiliates across the United States, opted to keep “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air in their markets. The blackout lasted several days, during which those stations filled the late-night time slot with either expanded local news coverage or syndicated programs. The absence of the show was felt in multiple regions, given the wide reach of the two companies’ affiliates.

On Friday, both Sinclair and Nexstar announced that their ABC stations would resume airing the program that evening. The companies framed the decision as a matter of local programming discretion, emphasizing the authority station owners hold to manage their lineups even when a network show is available.

The incident highlighted the ongoing tension between national network programming and the independence of local affiliates. While networks like ABC control the overall broadcast schedule, affiliate owners have the ability to withhold or replace certain programs. Industry observers pointed to this episode as a demonstration of how local control can shape what viewers see, particularly in cases involving controversy or heightened scrutiny.

No regulatory action from the Federal Communications Commission has been announced in relation to the blackout, and statements from the companies stressed the internal nature of the programming choices. Media reports covering the sequence of events noted the unusual speed with which the situation unfolded, beginning with the host’s remarks, followed by the network’s temporary suspension, reinstatement on most stations, and staggered returns across Sinclair and Nexstar affiliates.

The restoration means “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is once again accessible nationwide, returning late-night schedules for ABC affiliates to their usual format. The episode, however, has drawn attention to how quickly decisions made by networks and station groups can ripple across the broadcast landscape and affect viewers in major markets.

Sources: Associated Press, Fox8 / Nexstar Media, Yahoo Entertainment, PBS