Sinclair gets nothing it asked for, puts Jimmy Kimmel back on anyway

In a surprising turn of events, Sinclair Broadcast Group has announced that it will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its ABC affiliates starting tonight. This decision comes despite the fact that their earlier requests for an independent ombudsman and other changes have not been accepted by ABC and its parent company, Disney. Sinclair's initial decision to preempt Kimmel was made last week, coinciding with comments from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who warned that TV station owners who chose not to preempt the show could risk losing their FCC licenses. Sinclair had previously stated that they would not air Kimmel until meaningful discussions were held with ABC regarding professionalism and accountability within the network. The company had also expressed support for Carr's position against Kimmel and urged regulatory actions to address the influence of national networks over local broadcasters. Initially, Sinclair planned to air a tribute special during Kimmel's time slot, but later opted to release that content on YouTube instead. In its latest statement, Sinclair revealed that they did not achieve any of their proposed changes in discussions with ABC. They communicated their desire for measures that would enhance accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including the introduction of a network-wide independent ombudsman. While Sinclair acknowledged ABC and Disney's right to make their own decisions regarding these proposals, they believe that such measures could foster greater trust and accountability. Importantly, Sinclair emphasized that their decision to preempt the show was made independently and was not influenced by any government directives. They reiterated that free speech allows broadcasters the discretion to manage the programming content on their stations. In closing, Sinclair acknowledged that while their programming decisions may not be universally accepted, it is contradictory to advocate for free speech while mandating specific content airings.