- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Can ABC force Sinclair to air Jimmy Kimmel
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:58 am to Aeolian Vocalion
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:58 am to Aeolian Vocalion
Is the Super Bowl on ABC? I heard it mentioned they could threaten them with that if they don’t.
0
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:59 am to BuckI
Kimmel’s ratings were terrible. This seems like a publicity stunt to try and get someone to watch his awful show. He will be gone again by end of the year. Not bc of his comments but because he is not funny anymore. It’s sad to see democrats worship Jimmy Kimmel. They are lost with no one to look up to. I guess they still have Harris. Maybe she will get back on her knees to get another nomination.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:07 pm to RicoSuave2025
Would not want to be the person answering the phone if its aired state wide here in Arkansas.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:11 pm to RicoSuave2025
Somewhere Johnny Carson is laughing his arse off, and even Dick Cavat was more popular than present day Late-night Buffoons. Years ago CBS had it right, they couldn't compete with Carson, so they aired Movies and syndicated reruns of popular TV shows like McLoud, Columbo, MacMillon and Wife, etc
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:12 pm to BuckI
The DNC will subsidize any loses to keep their propaganda bitch going.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:21 pm to BuckI
quote:
Or even revoke their license to show their programs?
They probably could do this. They won't.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:30 pm to BuckI
CHATGPT has a very different take than GROK
Affiliation agreement: Sinclair owns several ABC affiliates, but the local stations are independently owned. They have a contract with ABC/Disney that defines what network programming they must air. These contracts typically cover prime time and late-night programming, so in theory, ABC can require the station to carry shows like Kimmel.
Leeway for preemption: Most affiliation agreements have clauses that allow the station to preempt network programming for:
Breaking local news
Severe weather emergencies
Certain local events or sports conflicts
But routine rejection of a late-night show like Kimmel, without a compelling contractual reason, would usually violate the agreement.
Practical reality: In rare cases, stations have pushed back on shows for content reasons (e.g., political commentary), but Disney/ABC could then:
Require the station to air the show
Or threaten to terminate the affiliation agreement when it comes up for renewal, which is a very strong incentive to comply.
Bottom line: Disney/ABC can generally force Sinclair to air Kimmel under the affiliation agreement, unless there’s a legitimate exception spelled out in the contract. Refusing without a valid reason could risk the station losing ABC affiliation entirely.
This is not the hill Disney is willing to die on. They shot themselves in the foot when the suspended him, not reinstating him will result in more backlast from the right. They should have just done nothing.
Affiliation agreement: Sinclair owns several ABC affiliates, but the local stations are independently owned. They have a contract with ABC/Disney that defines what network programming they must air. These contracts typically cover prime time and late-night programming, so in theory, ABC can require the station to carry shows like Kimmel.
Leeway for preemption: Most affiliation agreements have clauses that allow the station to preempt network programming for:
Breaking local news
Severe weather emergencies
Certain local events or sports conflicts
But routine rejection of a late-night show like Kimmel, without a compelling contractual reason, would usually violate the agreement.
Practical reality: In rare cases, stations have pushed back on shows for content reasons (e.g., political commentary), but Disney/ABC could then:
Require the station to air the show
Or threaten to terminate the affiliation agreement when it comes up for renewal, which is a very strong incentive to comply.
Bottom line: Disney/ABC can generally force Sinclair to air Kimmel under the affiliation agreement, unless there’s a legitimate exception spelled out in the contract. Refusing without a valid reason could risk the station losing ABC affiliation entirely.
This is not the hill Disney is willing to die on. They shot themselves in the foot when the suspended him, not reinstating him will result in more backlast from the right. They should have just done nothing.
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 12:32 pm
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:34 pm to RT1941
quote:
Kimmel's show will break viewing records starting tonight
Might be hard to do with 60 less stations for viewers to watch it on.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:35 pm to BigGreenTiger
Can the affiliates time shift a show and still be considered broadcasting it?
If Kimmel gets preempted at 11PM then airs at 3AM, it is still airing even at a less than ideal time.
If Kimmel gets preempted at 11PM then airs at 3AM, it is still airing even at a less than ideal time.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:38 pm to teke184
from how i intepreted it, they have to show it, but can decide how to show it. They can stream it on their youtube channel if they want. Which would obviously result in more conflict with disney, but that wouldnt be a breach of contract.
I don't know what the contract says though.
I don't know what the contract says though.
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 12:39 pm
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:38 pm to BigGreenTiger
Seems like they’re out then.
“Well, Celebrty Family Feud was doing well in that time slot so we moved Kimmel back to the graveyard shift.”
“Well, Celebrty Family Feud was doing well in that time slot so we moved Kimmel back to the graveyard shift.”
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:46 pm to BuckI
Eventually they will cave. ABC can take away programming. If they take away enough stuff that the viewers like, they will cause the viewers to turn on Sinclair.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:48 pm to krewerider
quote:
Kimmel's show will break viewing records starting tonight.
quote:
Might be hard to do with 60 less stations for viewers to watch it on.
quote:
Sinclair Broadcast Group's population reach is capped at 39% of U.S. television households by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is the highest level permitted for a single broadcaster. This regulatory limit was applied during the company's 2018 proposed merger with Tribune Media, which would have further increased Sinclair's reach to 72% of households but was scaled back to stay within the FCC's ownership cap.
39% of the population is going to be blacked out by Sinclair.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:48 pm to BuckI
They don't own the stations so no. They can try to get in some "breach of contract" fight but there is likely something in those contracts that requires Disney to maintain certain standards of decency and ratings for their station that would have to go to court to hash out.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:49 pm to Reagan80
What would they take though? Dancing with the stars? Disney can't threaten to pull the NFL. The NFL would nevel let themselves be a negotiation tactic.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:49 pm to PeleofAnalytics
Didn’t the Conan situation on NBC happen because the affiliates were going to drop Leno en masse from the 9-10PM slot?
NBC’s solution was to put Leno back in late night by fricking Conan, which resulted in Conan going to TBS.
NBC’s solution was to put Leno back in late night by fricking Conan, which resulted in Conan going to TBS.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:52 pm to teke184
If people are watching Kimmel, he will find a home. I personally think late night talk shows are dead. Trump has this rose tinted view of them like they have so much power, when in reality some random YouTube channel has more power.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:52 pm to BuckI
Can Sinclair just put his show on at 3 AM and meet contract obligations?
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:52 pm to BBONDS25
Depends on the contract with ABC / Disney. Years ago, the CBS affiliate in NO wanted to push back the airing of Letterman due to the fact that WWL's airing of M*A*S*H* at 10 35 kicked arse in local ratings. CBS essentially said that if WWL wanted to continue airing CBS network programs that Letterman would have to be played in the time slot that the network was airing it. They were going after Leno. Result was, that Leno was vaulted to the top of the local ratings.
Also, this was right before Fox took NFC games from CBS.....so the Saints played a role in it. Also before 1997 Telecom Act which gave the network a lot of power over the affiliiates.
Also, this was right before Fox took NFC games from CBS.....so the Saints played a role in it. Also before 1997 Telecom Act which gave the network a lot of power over the affiliiates.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:55 pm to PeleofAnalytics
Has anything like this happened before?
Page 2 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News