Advertisers withdraw support from ABC due to Kimmel's dismissal, potentially causing financial losses for the network
Disney executives have made the decision to pull "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" off the air following the host's controversial comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension was announced by Dana Walden, responsible for streaming and TV channels at The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC.
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has been a long-standing show on ABC, airing since 2003. Despite a decline in spending on late-night programming across ABC, CBS, and NBC, the show continued to carry cultural weight and function as a valuable branding platform. As of year-to-date, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" brought in close to $70 million in ad revenue for ABC, with over 200 different brands reportedly advertising on the show. Top spenders included Allstate, McDonald's, and Starbucks.
The show, which airs at 11:35 pm, competing with other late-night shows, has been a reliable platform for brands seeking exposure. About 12% of the show's ad slots were used by ABC to promote its own programming.
As of the article's publication, ABC had not responded to FOX Business' request for comment regarding the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". On Wednesday night, ABC filled the vacated late-night slot with a rerun of Celebrity Family Feud.
The decision to suspend the broadcast of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was made by Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden. The move comes as a shock to many, given the show's long-standing history on ABC. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the late-night television landscape and the future of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!".
