Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to the airwaves Tuesday night following a brief suspension, but viewers in Portland and other markets may not be able to watch his comeback live.
Local ABC affiliate KATU, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, is among the stations that will preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with local news programming instead.
Why Portland Won’t See Kimmel on ABC
Sinclair announced on Monday that it will not air Kimmel’s show across its ABC stations, saying:
Also Read
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
Nexstar Media Group has made a similar decision, meaning that about one-quarter of ABC affiliates nationwide will not show the program live.
When contacted Tuesday morning, KATU news director Danielle Frack declined to confirm the station’s programming schedule, though a staff member at the KATU news desk said the station would run local programming instead.
The Controversy Behind the Suspension
Kimmel was suspended last week after comments he made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During a monologue, Kimmel suggested that many of former President Donald Trump’s supporters were trying to spin the narrative about the alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah.
Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr accused Kimmel of attempting to “directly mislead the American public.” Authorities, however, say Robinson’s motives remain unclear, noting that although he grew up in a conservative family, his mother told investigators that he had shifted politically left in recent years.
ABC described Kimmel’s remarks as “ill-timed and insensitive” but stopped short of calling them misleading.
ABC Brings Kimmel Back
On Monday, ABC announced that Kimmel would return after “thoughtful conversations” with network executives. The suspension fueled a heated national debate about freedom of speech, with some Disney+ subscribers canceling their streaming accounts in protest.
Still, questions remain about how—or whether—Kimmel will address the controversy when he steps back onto the late-night stage. Millions are expected to tune in, though many will have to wait until the next day to watch in full.
Nexstar and Sinclair Hold Out
Nexstar Media Group, which also operates numerous ABC affiliates, joined Sinclair in withholding the program.
The company released a statement saying its decision would hold “pending assurances that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
Together, Sinclair and Nexstar own about 25% of ABC affiliates, a significant portion of the network’s reach. Their move leaves large swaths of the country—including Portland—without live access to Kimmel’s first episode back.
Industry Reactions
The suspension and its fallout have added fuel to an already shifting late-night television landscape. Audiences for traditional late-night shows have been declining as more viewers turn to online clips the next day.
CBS recently announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, underscoring the challenges networks face. During his own monologue Monday, Colbert jokingly referenced the upheaval, holding up his Emmy for outstanding talk series and quipping:
“Once more, I am the only martyr on late night!”
How to Watch ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ If You’re in Portland
For viewers in Sinclair and Nexstar markets—including Portland—watching Kimmel’s return requires some workarounds:
-
Hulu: The full episode will be available for free the following day (Wednesday) with a Hulu free trial.
-
YouTube: Kimmel’s opening monologue and selected clips, including interviews and highlights, will be posted on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel shortly after the show airs (around 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time).
-
Streaming Services: If you live outside of Sinclair or Nexstar regions, you can stream the show live through services like Fubo or DirecTV with free trials.
-
HDTV Antenna: In unaffected markets, you can watch over the air using a standard antenna.
-
VPN Option: Some viewers may use a virtual private network (VPN) to set their location outside of Sinclair or Nexstar markets and stream the program through ABC or eligible services.
Looking Ahead
Kimmel’s contract with ABC reportedly runs through May, but the controversy underscores both the fragility and influence of late-night television in today’s fragmented media environment.
While millions will tune in to hear Kimmel’s first words back on air, Portlanders and many others will be left waiting until the next day to catch the full episode. For ABC, the challenge will be balancing freedom of expression, affiliate relations, and the evolving habits of a late-night audience increasingly consuming content online rather than live.
