Sep 24, 2025 - Business

6.2 million tune into Jimmy Kimmel's late-night return

Sara Fischer

Jimmy Kimmel hosts his first show back on Tuesday after being pulled off the air. Photo: Randy Holmes/Disney

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" drew more than 6 million viewers in its return to the airwaves Tuesday night following a six-day suspension by Disney over his comments about Charlie Kirk.

Why it matters: Kimmel's return was expected to draw a large audience, but 6.2 million is especially impressive given that the program was not available to roughly 25% of ABC affiliates across the country.

For context, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged over 1 million viewers per episode last season.

Between the lines: Earlier this week, Nexstar and Sinclair — two of the largest local broadcast affiliates in the country — said they would continue to preempt Kimmel's program, despite Disney, the parent to ABC, bringing him back.

The two broadcast groups collectively distribute ABC across more than 60 stations.
On Wednesday, Nexstar said it's "continuing to evaluate the status of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on our ABC-affiliated local television stations, and the show will be preempted while we do so."
It added: "We are engaged in productive discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company, with a focus on ensuring the program reflects and respects the diverse interests of the communities we serve."

Zoom out: Those who couldn't watch Kimmel's return show live flocked to YouTube in droves.

Kimmel's return monologue drew over 17 million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours.

What to watch: Whether Kimmel's big numbers continue over the next few days and weeks, and whether increased viewership pushes Nexstar and Sinclair to reconsider preempting the program.

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6.2 million tune into Jimmy Kimmel's late-night return

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