What Is Nexstar, and Why Did It Spike Jimmy Kimmel?

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The controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s recent comments has sparked debate about free speech, but a key detail is often overlooked: Nexstar, the nation’s largest television station owner, decided to cancel the show on its affiliated stations *before* Disney, which produces “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, did the same. Both actions were prompted by criticism from conservative groups following Kimmel’s remarks. Nexstar was the first to stop airing the program on its 32 ABC stations, and was soon followed by Sinclair and then Disney itself, which also owns ABC stations in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Almost everyone is familiar with Jimmy Kimmel and Disney, but many people don’t know Nexstar. Nexstar had reasons for canceling Kimmel’s show that weren’t publicly stated. They claimed the cancellation was due to Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk, saying they would replace the show in their local ABC stations. Here’s a look at Nexstar and the possible real reasons behind their decision to remove Kimmel from the air.

What is Nexstar and who leads the company?

Nexstar, a company that has recently donated to right-wing political campaigns, now owns 197 television stations in the U.S. – more than its main competitors like Sinclair, Scripps, and Hearst. A 2019 merger with Tribune Media made Nexstar the largest local TV station owner in the country. Historically, these local stations were largely independent or part of small groups, but over the past few decades, the media landscape has consolidated, leading companies like Nexstar and the very conservative Sinclair to dominate. Nexstar reported $1.23 billion in revenue during the last quarter.

Nexstar is aiming to grow through acquisitions. CEO Perry Sook has stated he’s looking for opportunities, particularly with the change in administration, believing it will benefit shareholders. In August, Nexstar announced a $6.2 billion deal to buy Tegna, another large owner of local TV stations, but the deal still needs government approval.

How does it compare to Sinclair?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=GvtNyOzGogc

Sinclair is a large television company that’s received attention, including criticism from John Oliver, for its growing control of local TV stations. It’s the second-largest owner of local stations in the US and generally presents more conservative programming than its competitor, Nexstar – even, according to Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, requiring its stations to broadcast specific stories with a right-wing slant. Both Sinclair and Nexstar are major players in the TV industry, constantly acquiring more stations. If Nexstar’s deal to buy Tegna is finalized, it would significantly increase Nexstar’s lead over Sinclair, especially considering Sinclair also owns many ABC stations.

Why did Nexstar choose to pull Kimmel?

For Nexstar to successfully complete its deal with Tegna, it will have to navigate a political climate where the current administration frequently criticizes the press and media companies often pay large settlements. Recent examples show this is a real concern: Paramount had to settle a lawsuit with Donald Trump for $16 million related to a 60 Minutes interview, and Disney-owned ABC paid $15 million to Trump’s library to resolve a defamation claim. This week, Trump also announced a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times.

On Monday’s show, Jimmy Kimmel discussed how supporters of Donald Trump, often referred to as the ‘MAGA gang,’ were attempting to distance themselves from a teenager accused of attacking Charlie Kirk, seemingly to avoid political fallout. As reported by my colleague Joe Adalian, this comment prompted a response from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Wednesday. Carr leads the agency that would oversee any potential mergers involving Nexstar.

Carr told conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson that media companies could either address Jimmy Kimmel’s comments themselves, or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) might have to step in. He emphasized the FCC’s authority to revoke a station’s broadcasting license if it doesn’t serve the public interest.

Comments made about Jimmy Kimmel appeared to cause Nexstar to stop broadcasting his show, as journalist Oliver Darcy reported. Within half an hour, both Sinclair and Disney did the same, removing upcoming episodes. Later that day, Sinclair announced its ABC stations would replace Kimmel’s show with a tribute to Charlie Kirk on Friday. The President, who has long disliked Kimmel, then posted on Truth Social, celebrating the show’s declining ratings and implying its cancellation.

So … does Nexstar’s Tegna deal go through now?

Ultimately, it’s still unclear what will happen. This situation highlights how uncertain things are in the media, especially with the potential for regulatory consequences looming. It’s possible that officials could object to other programs on ABC or Nexstar’s stations in the future. Nexstar described Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks as “offensive and insensitive” in a statement, but they didn’t say exactly which comments they were referring to.

If Nexstar successfully completes its acquisition and solidifies its position as the leading local TV broadcaster, it will depend on favorable treatment from regulators willing to use their power. During a press conference on Thursday, President Trump suggested the government might punish TV networks he views as critical, even hinting at revoking their broadcast licenses.

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2025-09-18 22:55