When Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Sept. 23 after a turbulent five-day suspension, millions tuned in to hear his first monologue since ABC pulled the show. But as Kimmel himself pointed out, not everyone could watch.

In a pointed aside during his comeback, the host acknowledged that affiliates in several major markets had declined to air his return episode, even though ABC officially reinstated the show. The result was a patchwork of blackouts across the country — and a reminder of how much power local affiliates still wield in the age of streaming.

“Sorry, You’ll Have to Go to YouTube”

“We are still on the air in most of the country, except, ironically, for Washington, D.C.,” Kimmel said, noting that viewers in the capital couldn’t see his return.

He went on to list other markets affected by preemptions, including Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, Oregon, and Salt Lake City.

“None of my wife’s family is able to watch,” Kimmel quipped. “Sorry, you’ll have to go to YouTube.”

Later in the episode, he acknowledged the situation again, saying the program was “suddenly not being broadcast in 20 percent of the country, which is not a situation we relish.”

Why Affiliates Blacked Him Out

The blackout followed Kimmel’s suspension by ABC on Sept. 17, after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggested in a podcast that affiliates should stop carrying the show and warned of possible FCC “remedies.”

ABC eventually reversed course and reinstated Kimmel after days of backlash from Hollywood, unions, and fellow late-night hosts. But two of the nation’s largest affiliate owners, Sinclair and Nexstar, opted not to air his return.

For Sinclair and Nexstar, both known for occasionally clashing with network decisions, this was a chance to flex their independence — even if it meant leaving portions of ABC’s primetime audience in the dark.

The Legal Gray Area

Affiliate carriage agreements generally require local stations to air network programming in designated time slots. These contracts are what make ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox national brands rather than loose federations of local stations.

Permitted preemptions: Affiliates are allowed to interrupt network feeds for breaking news or live sports.

Disputed preemptions: Refusing to air a show due to political controversy or content disagreements is far murkier. In theory, such blackouts could spark contractual disputes, though networks are often reluctant to take affiliates to court, fearing long-term damage to relationships that underpin their national reach.

That gray area is where Sinclair and Nexstar operated when they refused to broadcast Kimmel’s return. Whether ABC will challenge the preemptions is an open question.

Affiliate Blackouts Through History

Kimmel’s situation may feel unique, but affiliate blackouts have a long and often contentious history in American broadcasting.

1950s–1960s: Political Sensitivity

During the McCarthy era, some affiliates refused to air programs that featured suspected “subversives,” even if the networks supported them.

Religious groups sometimes pressured affiliates not to broadcast controversial films or specials, particularly those touching on sexuality.

1970s–1990s: Controversial Content

1978: Affiliates in several markets refused to air NBC’s Jesus of Nazareth miniseries due to complaints from Christian groups.

1997: Dozens of ABC affiliates preempted Ellen’s famous “Puppy Episode,” in which Ellen DeGeneres’ character came out as gay. Some replaced it with reruns of family sitcoms.

2004: Janet Jackson and the Super Bowl Fallout

After the infamous “wardrobe malfunction,” CBS affiliates imposed stricter content standards, with some preempting network shows like Without a Trace or Saving Private Ryan for fear of FCC fines.

2009–2010: NBC’s Jay Leno Show Experiment

When NBC moved Jay Leno to primetime, affiliates revolted as local news ratings cratered. The pressure forced NBC to scrap the experiment within months.

2018: Sinclair’s Must-Run Commentaries

In a reversal of the Kimmel situation, Sinclair required affiliates to run conservative editorial segments. Anchors at local stations voiced discomfort, and critics accused the company of politicizing local news.

Kimmel’s blackouts fit into this lineage: another flashpoint where local station owners assert independence when national programming collides with political controversy.

The Political Overlay

The fact that one of the blacked-out markets was Washington, D.C. was not lost on Kimmel — or his audience. At a moment when FCC pressure and presidential criticism were already central to the story, the capital’s affiliate refusing to air the show was both symbolic and ironic.

Adding to the political weight:

Donald Trump lashed out at ABC on Truth Social just before Kimmel’s return, threatening new legal action against the network.

Conservative critics hailed the affiliates’ decision as proof that local stations could stand up to what they view as liberal programming.

Free speech advocates, meanwhile, worried that allowing affiliates to selectively block shows based on political content could chill late-night comedy.

Streaming as a Safety Net

For Kimmel, the irony is that in 2025, blackout power may not carry the same sting it once did. As he told his wife’s family, “Sorry, you’ll have to go to YouTube.”

With ABC uploading full episodes and clips to streaming platforms almost immediately, fans in affected markets could still see the monologue within hours. Still, the blackouts matter symbolically: they underscore the fragility of broadcast television when caught between political pressure and corporate caution.

The Broader Stakes

The Sinclair and Nexstar blackouts complicate ABC’s attempt to frame Kimmel’s reinstatement as a victory for free expression. While Disney chose to bring him back, affiliates showed they can still chip away at national reach — potentially emboldening others to do the same in future controversies.

For Kimmel, the challenge now is to continue delivering sharp commentary without becoming a bargaining chip in ongoing power struggles between networks, affiliates, and regulators.

Conclusion

Jimmy Kimmel’s return was supposed to be a triumphant moment after a week of suspension, backlash, and debate over free speech. Instead, it became another reminder of the patchwork nature of American broadcasting.

By pointing out that his show wasn’t airing in Washington, Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, or Salt Lake City, Kimmel highlighted both the absurdity and the stakes of the moment.

Yes, fans can watch on YouTube. But the blackouts underline a deeper truth: the battle over Kimmel’s suspension isn’t just about one comedian. It’s about the delicate balance of power between networks, affiliates, regulators, and politicians — and whether satire can survive when any of them decide to pull the plug.