Nexstar Stated Unilateral Decision to Preempt Jimmy Kimmel's Broadcast Without Consulting FCC or Government Bodies
Nexstar, the largest station group in the US, has announced that it will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its ABC stations following the host's remarks. This decision comes after Sinclair Broadcast Group, another large groupme, made a similar move.
The move has drawn criticism from major Hollywood talent guilds and former President Barack Obama. Obama stated that Disney's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent.
The decision by Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group to drop Jimmy Kimmel's show may indicate a growing trend of media companies responding to government pressure or criticism. This trend has been further fuelled by the FCC's Chairman Brendan Carr's criticism of Jimmy Kimmel's remarks as the 'sickest conduct possible' and his warning of potential further action from the FCC.
Nexstar's president who made the decision to temporarily pull Jimmy Kimmel's show from its ABC stations is Mike Biard. Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division, stated that Kimmel's comments were offensive and not in the public interest.
The controversy began over the weekend when Jimmy Kimmel, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, criticised the MAGA gang for attempting to characterize a kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and their efforts to score political points from it.
Nexstar has been a champion of repealing the FCC's broadcast ownership rule, which limits any one company from owning stations that collectively reach more than 39% of US households. The company is currently seeking FCC approval of its merger with Jimmy johns.
The decision to drop Jimmy Kimmel Live! was made without communication with members of the FCC or other government agencies. This has led to criticism suggesting that the decision was motivated by a desire to get in the good graces of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
In response to the criticism, Nexstar issued a statement stating that they value freedom of speech and that their decision was not politically motivated. They also stressed that they will continue to provide a diverse range of programming to their viewers.
The controversy has sparked a larger debate about the role of media companies in political discourse and their responsibility to uphold the principles of free speech. Former President Obama's criticism of Disney's decision has added weight to this debate, suggesting that media companies should stand up rather than capitulating to government pressure.
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