“Your decision not to reinstate comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show appears contrary to the inherently local aspects of your station licenses…” 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), today wrote to Sinclair Broadcast Group President and CEO Christopher S. Ripley, calling on him to immediately reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! to Sinclair’s KOMO-TV in Seattle and its affiliates across the country.

“The First Amendment ensures the freedom of expression and a free press, and our nation’s media landscape needs to embody those ideals,” wrote Sen. Cantwell. “As a trusted voice in the community, local broadcasting is a critical part of that landscape. Your decision not to reinstate comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show appears contrary to the inherently local aspects of your station licenses, given the popularity of Mr. Kimmel’s show in the market. I urge you to return Mr. Kimmel’s show to KOMO-TV.”

Last week, following FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s threats to Disney/ABC and its affiliates that he would seek retribution if they did not cancel Jimmy Kimmel’s show, it was immediately suspended. Although ABC returned Kimmel to the air last night, Sinclair issued a statement declaring that ABC’s suspension was “not enough” and proceeded with preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from all 39 ABC affiliates.

“Broadcast licensees can—and do—decide what programming to air in their communities of license,” explained Sen. Cantwell. “Licensees also choose to enter into affiliate agreements with national networks, such as ABC.”

The Senator continued, “Your ABC affiliate in Seattle, KOMO-TV, is one of the most popular stations in the area, and ratings for Jimmy Kimmel Live! are higher in the Seattle DMA than the national average. I am concerned that your decision, made on a national level, will negatively impact how millions of viewers in the Puget Sound region access quality, local news and programming. And while viewers may still be able to access Jimmy Kimmel Live! through ABC and Disney’s streaming platforms the next day, this puts content behind a paywall. Local broadcast programming must be available over-the-air to ensure widespread access to local news and information.”

On September 24, Sen. Cantwell led a letter to Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas), requesting he call FCC Chair Brendan Carr to testify before the Committee following Carr’s threats to use FCC regulatory power against ABC and its affiliates.  

The full text of the letter is below and a PDF can be found HERE.

Dear Mr. Ripley:

I write to express my concerns regarding your decision to continue preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! from KOMO-TV in Seattle and your affiliate stations across the country. The First Amendment ensures the freedom of expression and a free press, and our nation’s media landscape needs to embody those ideals. As a trusted voice in the community, local broadcasting is a critical part of that landscape. Your decision not to reinstate comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show appears contrary to the inherently local aspects of your station licenses, given the popularity of Mr. Kimmel’s show in the market. I urge you to return Mr. Kimmel’s show to KOMO-TV.

Last week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr appeared on a podcast and threatened Disney/ABC and its affiliates with retribution if they did not stop airing Kimmel’s show. Hours later, Nexstar, the largest broadcast station group, announced it would preempt Mr. Kimmel’s show effective immediately on its 32 ABC affiliate stations; ABC announced an indefinite suspension of Mr. Kimmel’s show shortly thereafter. Following ABC’s announcement, Sinclair then issued its own statement declaring that ABC’s suspension is “not enough” before proceeding with the preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from your 39 affiliates, as well as a list of demands, including an apology and monetary donation from Mr. Kimmel to the Kirk Family, before returning his show to your stations. Now, even as ABC returned Mr. Kimmel’s show to the airwaves last night, Sinclair continues to preempt while conversations with ABC are ongoing. This meant that my constituents who live in the Seattle Designated Market Area (DMA)—more than 5 million people—were unable to watch Mr. Kimmel’s show on KOMO last night.

Broadcast licensees can—and do—decide what programming to air in their communities of license. Licensees also choose to enter into affiliate agreements with national networks, such as ABC.

Your ABC affiliate in Seattle, KOMO-TV, is one of the most popular stations in the area, and ratings for Jimmy Kimmel Live! are higher in the Seattle DMA than the national average.  I am concerned that your decision, made on a national level, will negatively impact how millions of viewers in the Puget Sound region access quality, local news, and programming. And while viewers may still be able to access Jimmy Kimmel Live! through ABC and Disney’s streaming platforms, the next day, this puts content behind a paywall. Local broadcast programming must be available over-the-air to ensure widespread access to local news and information. I know we share this goal.

I urge you to listen to your community of license and return Jimmy Kimmel Live! to KOMO-TV. 

Sincerely,

###