Distribution restored and ratings play

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is set to return across the ABC network’s full footprint after Nexstar joined Sinclair in ending a temporary blackout of the late-night show. The move restores the program to millions of households that lost access amid a dispute over content and carriage issues, according to station groups. For Disney and ABC, the reversal stabilizes a key franchise heading into a crowded fall slate, while advertisers regain consistent reach and frequency for national buys. Kimmel’s first shows back drew strong linear and social metrics, aided by curiosity over his on-air response to the controversy.

Why it matters for late night

The episode highlights how affiliate relations can abruptly reshape late-night availability even in a streaming era. Restoring distribution ahead of sweeps helps ABC shore up ad commitments and maintain cross-promotion for primetime launches. For viewers, the return normalizes a lineup that saw fragmentation as clips migrated to digital platforms during the blackout. The incident may push networks to bake clearer content-review protocols into affiliation deals, balancing editorial independence with local standards. Whether the resolution holds will depend on backstage guardrails and a calmer political news cycle.