"The broadcasters' continued pre-empting of Kimmel's show is the latest twist in a week-long saga sparked by one line in the comedian's Sept. 15 monologue: "The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it." Politicians, corporations, and the public reacted loudly. On the right, his comment about the politicization of the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was proof of Hollywood's disdain for the everyday Americans who were Kirk's fans."
"But behind the outrage lies a thornier business dilemma-one that now ensnares the legacy of Disney CEO Bob Iger, broadcast television, and President Donald Trump's impact on the media. Even after Kimmel returned to the air with a rousing and at times tearful monologue, the two largest local TV broadcasters stayed dark. Those affiliates represent largely conservative parts of the country, communities that largely supported pulling Kimmel. But liberals say the move has nothing to do with viewer preferences, arguing that corruption and antitrust horse-trading at the FCC are the real reason for the move. The reality is more complex than either explanation, according to insiders."
Millions of viewers lost access to Jimmy Kimmel Live when major local affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair kept the show off the air after a contentious Sept. 15 monologue. The monologue accused the MAGA movement of politicizing an assassination, sparking intense reactions across the political spectrum and leading Disney-owned ABC to suspend Kimmel. Conservative communities largely supported the pre-emptions, while critics on the left alleged regulatory and antitrust improprieties at the FCC influenced the decision. The standoff now implicates Disney CEO Bob Iger, the future of local broadcasting relationships, and broader tensions over media, politics, and regulation.
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