As anyone who is paying attention to the news these days knows, ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel came under fire after his September 17, 2025, monologue about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
It wasn’t even a week ago, but so much has happened since then that it feels longer.
Kimmel accused Trump supporters of “trying to score political points” in the wake of the killing and compared former President Donald Trump’s reaction to “how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
It didn’t take long for Kimmel to receive pointed criticism from the public, government representatives, and his employer.
Jimmy Kimmel controversy timeline:
• September 17: FCC chair weighs in. On September 17, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr publicly celebrated Kimmel’s suspension on his X account. Carr later warned that ABC’s broadcast licenses could face review if Disney failed to act. The statement raised immediate concerns about whether government pressure was influencing broadcast programming.
• September 18: Affiliates drop the show. Two of the nation’s largest affiliate groups — Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group — announced they would stop airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”.
Together, Nexstar and Sinclair represent about 25% of ABC’s U.S. reach. ABC later confirmed the show would be suspended indefinitely, per AP reporting, with reruns and local programming filling the late-night slot.
• September 19-21: free speech debate grows. The suspension set off a national debate. Legal experts cited by the New York Times noted that the First Amendment limits government censorship, not decisions made by private companies.
Disney and affiliates were legally entitled to pull Kimmel’s show. At the same time, Carr’s warnings about licenses raised questions about whether government threats tied to political speech could themselves cross constitutional boundaries. Analysts also warned of a potential chilling effect on comedians and broadcasters.
• September 22: Disney announces reinstatement. On September 22, Disney said “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would return to its late-night schedule following what executives called “thoughtful conversations” with the host’s team.
• September 23: Affiliates refuse to carry the show. While the show resumed on September 23, Nexstar and Sinclair confirmed they would continue to pre-empt it, leaving significant parts of the country without access to ABC’s late-night programming.
Image source: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Needham says ABC should exit broadcast television
Also on September 23, investment firm Needham & Co. released a report urging Walt Disney (DIS) to shut down ABC entirely rather than attempt a sale.
The research note was first reported by Seeking Alpha.
Needham analysts argued that the Kimmel controversy highlighted the risks of operating a regulated broadcast network.
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They estimate that shutting down ABC could:
- Increase shareholder value by about $20 billion.
- Deliver a 10% boost in valuation.
- Improve revenue growth by 40-60 basis points (0.4% to 0.6%).
Needham sees streaming as alternative to network television
Needham suggested Disney (DIS) could simulcast ABC programming on Hulu or a Disney app instead of relying on affiliates. The firm said this approach would help Disney reach younger audiences while avoiding FCC oversight.
The bottom line is broadcast TV viewership slipped to a record-low 18.5% of overall viewing in June as streaming climbed to 46% of the total, Nielsen said in its latest Gauge report.
The Kimmel-Kirk sequence of events — from Kimmel’s remarks to affiliate boycotts and Wall Street recommendations — shows how a late-night controversy quickly escalated into a financial and regulatory issue.
The episode highlights the growing pressure for Disney to rethink ABC’s role in its portfolio. Needham’s report represents the strongest call yet for the company to exit broadcast television in favor of streaming.
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