Editing Openai/68d14bbf-56c4-8001-93fb-ec6701de7d5c (section)

=== Assistant: Here’s a deeper look into Nexstar and Sinclair, what role they played in the Kimmel suspension, and whether the decisio… ===
Here’s a deeper look into Nexstar and Sinclair, what role they played in the Kimmel suspension, and whether the decision came from local stations or from the owners / network. Please let me know if you want to go even deeper.

==== Nexstar Media Group ====
* Based in Irving, Texas. Fox Business<ref>{{cite web|title=Fox Business|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/what-know-about-nexstar-abc-pulls-kimmel-indefinitely|publisher=Fox Business|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
* One of the largest local TV station owners in the U.S., owning or partnering with more than 200 stations in 116 U.S. markets. Fox Business<ref>{{cite web|title=Fox Business|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-abc-affiliates-to-preempt-jimmy-kimmel-live-indefinitely-beginning-tonight/|publisher=Fox Business|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
* Operates many ABC affiliates (28–32 depending on reporting) that carry ABC network programming. Deadline<ref>{{cite web|title=Deadline|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-abc-affiliates-to-preempt-jimmy-kimmel-live-indefinitely-beginning-tonight/|publisher=nexstar.tv|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
* It also has other media properties (e.g. The CW, NewsNation, The Hill) and is active in acquisition efforts (notably trying to acquire Tegna, which would increase its reach. Business Insider<ref>{{cite web|title=Business Insider|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/nexstar-deal-fcc-jimmy-kimmel-suspension-2025-9|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>

Sinclair Broadcast Group
* Another major owner/operator of local TV stations, including dozens of ABC affiliates. AP News<ref>{{cite web|title=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/8eb9dca5dff2c717fd00a7083982c5c4|publisher=AP News|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
* Known for having a conservative-leaning reputation in its programming choices or editorial direction. Los Angeles Times<ref>{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-09-18/what-are-nexstar-and-sinclair-the-abc-affiliate-owners-who-issued-statements-against-jimmy-kimmel|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2025-09-18|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
* Like Nexstar, it has influence nationally because its stations reach many markets. Los Angeles Times<ref>{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-09-18/what-are-nexstar-and-sinclair-the-abc-affiliate-owners-who-issued-statements-against-jimmy-kimmel|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2025-09-18|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>

==== You asked whether local affiliate stations chose to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” or whether the decision came from the higher-ups (station owners, network, etc.). From the reporting: ====
# Nexstar’s decision was made “unilaterally” by its senior executive team. - According to multiple sources (including Nexstar itself), the senior executives made the decision to preempt Kimmel's show on their ABC affiliates, without prior communication with the FCC or government agencies. Deadline<ref>{{cite web|title=Deadline|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/09/19/nexstar-will-replace-jimmy-kimmel/|publisher=sltrib.com|date=2025-09-19|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref> - Nexstar said that its ABC-affiliated stations will replace “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with other programming “for the foreseeable future,” effective immediately. People.com<ref>{{cite web|title=People.com|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-abc-affiliates-to-preempt-jimmy-kimmel-live-indefinitely-beginning-tonight/|publisher=nexstar.tv|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
# Sinclair similarly pulled the show on its ABC affiliates. - Sinclair publicly said it would not air Kimmel’s show until there were “formal discussions with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability,” and also demanded a “direct apology” and a donation from Kimmel to the family / organization involved. AP News<ref>{{cite web|title=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/8eb9dca5dff2c717fd00a7083982c5c4|publisher=AP News|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
# What local stations said / when they found out - Local affiliates (in markets owned or managed by these companies) seem to have learned of the preemption essentially at the same time the decision was publicized. Reporting indicates the affiliate-stations did not independently initiate this; the action was driven by the station owners. For example, in Utah, the station ABC4 (owned by Nexstar) announced it would no longer air the show, citing the company’s broader decision. The Salt Lake Tribune<ref>{{cite web|title=The Salt Lake Tribune|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/09/19/nexstar-will-replace-jimmy-kimmel/|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=2025-09-19|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref> - One local ABC affiliate (Denver7, owned by E.W. Scripps) explicitly wrote that the suspension was a national decision, not local. Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH)<ref>{{cite web|title=Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH)|url=https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/abc-the-fcc-and-jimmy-kimmel-the-network-decision-to-pull-the-late-night-show-explained|publisher=Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH)|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>
# ABC / The Walt Disney Company’s role - ABC (the network) and Disney (the corporate parent) also officially suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely. The network-level suspension came after the affiliate owners had already announced they would preempt airing the show. People.com<ref>{{cite web|title=People.com|url=https://people.com/jimmy-kimmel-live-pulled-by-abc-indefinitely-after-comments-about-charlie-kirk-11777916|publisher=people.com|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref> - According to Wikipedia’s summary, ABC/Disney-level executives (Bob Iger, Dana Walden) made the decision to suspend the show. Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_Jimmy_Kimmel_Live%21|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-27}}</ref>

==== Based on the evidence: ====
* The decision was not simply local individual stations deciding independently.
* It was driven by the station owners (Nexstar, Sinclair) making preemptions, which then put pressure (or aligned with) the network (ABC/Disney) to suspend the show fully.
* Local stations belonging to those groups seem to have been informed as part of these larger decisions, rather than initiating the move.

So yes: it appears the decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was largely made at the ownership / corporate level — initial actions by Nexstar and Sinclair, followed by a network decision.

If you want, I can map exactly which markets pulled the show first, or examine communications showing when local station managers were informed, to see how coordinated this was. Do you want me to do that?