By David Shepardson
(Reuters) -Sinclair Broadcast Group said on Friday it will end its preemption of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and the show will return in the evening on Sinclair’s nearly 40 ABC-affiliated stations.
Sinclair is one of two major broadcast owners that had not agreed to resume airing the show this week after Disney lifted a nearly week-long suspension.
It had faced pressure from some lawmakers over the decision to not air the program. Sinclair’s ABC stations represent about 14% of U.S. households.
Nexstar Media Group has also opted to keep Kimmel off the air on its 32 owned-and-operated ABC stations, which account for about 9% of U.S. households. Nexstar needs FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna.
ABC suspended Kimmel’s show on September 17 over comments he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Hours before the suspension, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr warned that local broadcasters who aired Kimmel could face fines or loss of licenses and said “it’s time for them to step up.”
Disney and Carr did not immediately comment on Sinclair’s decision.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot)
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