September 17, 2025
ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live after FCC chair Brendan Carr warns affiliates
Broadcasters self-censor as administration weaponizes licensing authority
đď¸Governmentđ°Media Literacy
ABC and Disney suspended production of Jimmy Kimmel Live on Sept 17, 2025; Disney announced the show's return for Sept 23, 2025.
FCC Chair 
Brendan Carr told a conservative podcast on Sept 17, 2025, that broadcasters 'have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest,' and he warned affiliates there could be 'additional work for the FCC ahead.'
Nexstar and Sinclair preempted Kimmel on many ABC affiliates; together they control about 70 ABC affiliates and roughly a quarter of ABC's national coverage.
The FCC licenses local broadcast stations, not television networks, and its content enforcement authority is limited to narrow categories such as obscenity and timed indecency rules.
đď¸Governmentđ°Media Literacy
Test Your Knowledge
10
Q1
<p>Jimmy Kimmel returned to air on September 24, 2025, exactly one week after his suspension.</p>
Q2
<p>What did Kimmel actually say that triggered Carr's threats?</p>
Q3
<p>Sinclair Broadcast Group demanded Kimmel apologize to the Kirk family and donate to Turning Point USA before they would air his show again.</p>
Q4
<p>Complete the facts: Nexstar owns ___ ABC affiliates and needs FCC approval for a $___ billion merger that would reach ___% of US households.</p>
Q5
<p>The FCC can legally revoke a broadcaster's license based on political viewpoints expressed in their programming.</p>
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Start QuizPeople, bills, and sources
Brendan Carr
Chair, Federal Communications Commission
Jimmy Kimmel
Host, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group
Major ABC affiliate owners
Senator Ted Cruz
U.S. Senator, oversight role over FCC