Sinclair Broadcast Group said on Sept. 26 it will resume airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates, ending a four-day boycott of the late-night program sparked by Kimmel’s remarks about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Sinclair, the nation’s largest operator of ABC stations, said in a statement that its earlier decision to preempt the show was independent of any government influence, and that it sought to balance free-speech concerns with community standards. The company said it will continue discussions with ABC about measures to strengthen accountability and viewer trust.
“Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations,” Sinclair said. “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.”…