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Can ABC force Sinclair to air Jimmy Kimmel
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:10 am
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:10 am
Through the courts? Or even revoke their license to show their programs?
19
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:13 am to BuckI
The Left seems to think that they have a constitutional right to watch a Leftist late night “comedy” show. Awaiting Judge Boasberg’s ruling ordering Sinclair and Nexstar to air the show.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:13 am to BuckI
No
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:14 am to BuckI
quote:
No, ABC cannot force Sinclair to air Jimmy Kimmel or any specific program, nor can it revoke Sinclair’s license to show ABC programming. Here’s why, broken down clearly:
1. Nature of the Relationship
Sinclair is a broadcast station owner/operator, while ABC is a network.
Sinclair affiliates may carry ABC programming through affiliate agreements. These agreements specify which shows the station agrees to air, but the network cannot unilaterally force the station to air content outside of that contract.
2. Affiliate Agreements
Networks like ABC sign contracts with local stations for carrying programming.
These contracts usually allow some flexibility for the station regarding scheduling, preemptions, or local content.
If a station consistently refuses to air shows, ABC could potentially terminate the affiliation, but it cannot revoke Sinclair’s broadcast license, because the license is issued by the FCC, not ABC.
3. FCC Licensing
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issues broadcast licenses.
Licenses are tied to the station itself, not the network. ABC has no authority to revoke a station’s FCC license.
Only violations of FCC regulations (like indecency rules, public service obligations, or ownership rules) could result in license challenges or revocation.
4. What ABC can do
Terminate the affiliate agreement if Sinclair refuses to air ABC content.
Pull programming from Sinclair’s stations, forcing them to negotiate with another local affiliate.
Public pressure or legal action if Sinclair violates contractual obligations.
Bottom line: ABC cannot make Sinclair air Kimmel and cannot revoke its broadcast license. The only leverage ABC has is through contractual means—threatening to end the affiliation or pull programming.
Per Grok
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:19 am to BuckI
I doubt it. I assume affiliates pay ABC then sell their own advertising so I don't see how they can force them and Sinclair can simply say our next contractual agreement isn't going to happen. We bought reruns of Mash to air during Jimmy.
Just like many local affiliates didn't air Letterman when he started. Nola NBC showed Thicke of the Night.
Just like many local affiliates didn't air Letterman when he started. Nola NBC showed Thicke of the Night.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:22 am to BuckI
quote:
Can ABC force Sinclair to air Jimmy Kimmel
Through the courts? Or even revoke their license to show their programs?
Um... no?
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:22 am to stout
Thanks for the info. I was unsure of their options. This seems like a losing battle for ABC.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:27 am to Big Jim Slade
This could be a SNEAKY MOVE by Disney/ABC to stop the left wings threat of a Boycott. They say, we are going to bring him back, then Sinclair says we will not air him, Disney then says, well, we tried, so now the Left Wing Loons can't blame Disney/ABC lol.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:28 am to BuckI
ABC better be careful or people are going to start boycotting their other programming they don’t lose their arse on financially.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:37 am to stout
Between Sinclair and Nexstar, thats around 70 local ABC affiliates nationwide. Disney isn't dealing with an affiliate that only has a handful of markets and could be strong armed into doing what ABC wants.
Supposedly Kimmel's contract expires in May. So if Sinclair and Nexstar stay firm on their refusal to air Kimmel's show, then I can't see how ABC would renew it. They'd probably just produce the show for another couple of months and let all the controversy fade away. Then just say they're not renewing Kimmel's contract and that it was a financial decision because the show was losing money. Kind of like how CBS did with Colbert.
Supposedly Kimmel's contract expires in May. So if Sinclair and Nexstar stay firm on their refusal to air Kimmel's show, then I can't see how ABC would renew it. They'd probably just produce the show for another couple of months and let all the controversy fade away. Then just say they're not renewing Kimmel's contract and that it was a financial decision because the show was losing money. Kind of like how CBS did with Colbert.
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 11:39 am
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:40 am to Tiger Prawn
So, Kimmel will not be shown on 65 channels. Advertizing money would be greatly affected espcially since his ratings were garbage already.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:42 am to BuckI
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:44 am to BuckI
It will be interesting to see what Nexstar decides to do.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:45 am to BuckI
Aside from the fact that Sinclair is ABC's largest franchisee, and would be suicidal for ABC to terminate that relationship, there are always Standards Clauses built-in to these contracts often with the Right of Refusal to air programming deemed unsuitable by franchisees.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:45 am to Big Jim Slade
quote:Then ABC can stream it on YouTube after the initial broadcast, but I don't believe they can do it live and cut out their local broadcaster.
The Left seems to think that they have a constitutional right to watch a Leftist late night “comedy” show. Awaiting Judge Boasberg’s ruling ordering Sinclair and Nexstar to air the show.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:47 am to BuckI
quote:Kimmel's show will break viewing records starting tonight........then fizzle on out like his ratings have petered out the last couple of years. Be assured Dem's will drink a cup of coffee at 9pm & stay up late watching a mediocre comedian as a show of support.
Thanks for the info. I was unsure of their options. This seems like a losing battle for ABC.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:48 am to BuckI
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:48 am to BuckI
I remember when local affiliates often didn't air their network's offerings. It was pretty common in the 1960s and early-1970s. The network would put up some dud series that got low ratings, so the local station would instead air reruns of "Branded" or the syndicated "Candid Camera" show in the time-slot. They'd also pre-empt for things for Billy Graham and the like.
For quite a number of years, channel-3 (ABC) in Shreveport would air a big feature-film (from a syndicated package) on Monday evenings, from 6:00-8:00pm, and thus not air the ABC programming from 6:30-8:00. Hence, series like "The Young Lawyers" or "The New People" wouldn't be seen in the market. To no one's sorrow.
For quite a number of years, channel-3 (ABC) in Shreveport would air a big feature-film (from a syndicated package) on Monday evenings, from 6:00-8:00pm, and thus not air the ABC programming from 6:30-8:00. Hence, series like "The Young Lawyers" or "The New People" wouldn't be seen in the market. To no one's sorrow.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:55 am to BuckI
Some of the answers here are close but not 100%. I was GM of an NBC affiliate once upon a time. The contract with the network, any network, stipulates that the station will carry x number of hours of network (ABC in this case) programming. As long as the station carries that number of hours it can preempt any network show without penalty. The stations pay for hours of programming will go down but is usually offset as a local spot carrier program might bring in more money than the show they preempted.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:56 am to bluewatersailor
quote:
but is usually offset as a local spot carrier program might bring in more money than the show they preempted.
Won't be hard considering Kimmel's low ratings
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