ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Live

[michael hagerty]

Analyst: Network Late-Night Talk Shows Became Unprofitable in 2023 (Updated) - LateNighter

Are we to really believe CBS when it says 'The Late Show' is losing $40 million a year? We asked a network TV research analyst familiar with the financial realities of late-night television from the inside (at networks other than CBS) whether that number rang true. Their answer was a qualified yes.

latenighter.com

That story, despite the headline, quotes an unnamed network analyst as saying that he (she? who knows?) "believes" CBS might be right that Colbert's show was losing money.

It doesn't say a thing about Kimmel's show.

Kimmel, however, has, in a Variety interview from one month ago today---two weeks after the article you linked to and, given Kimmel's words, likely in response to it.

Essential Q&A pullquote:

There have been reports that Colbert’s show was losing $40 million a year. What’s your take on that?​

I just want to say that the idea that Stephen Colbert‘s show was losing $40 million a year is beyond nonsensical. These alleged insiders who supposedly analyze the budgets of the shows — I don’t know who they are, but I do know they don’t know what they’re talking about. They seem to only be focused on advertising revenue and have completely forgotten about affiliate fees, which number in the hundreds of millions — probably in total billions — and you must allocate a certain percentage of those fees to late-night shows. It really is surprising how little the media seems to know about how the media works. There’s just not a snowball’s chance in hell that that’s anywhere near accurate. Even that — that’s all you need to know. Suddenly he’s losing $40 million a year?

So. Once more, any proof or source that Jimmy Kimmel Live is losing money?

Trust me because I did (and still do) this shit for a living---I haven't found it and I'be been looking for a couple of hours.

Here's the full Kimmel Variety interview from August 18:

Jimmy Kimmel Blasts Reports of Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Losing $40 Million for CBS: ‘Not a Snowball’s Chance in Hell That’s Accurate’

Emmy-nominated Jimmy Kimmel calls $40M Colbert loss reports "nonsensical" and explains why he's voting for the late night host.

variety.com

 

[michael hagerty]

Is the Daily Show only on cable (Comedy Central), or is it available on one of the streaming services?

Pararmount+.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Does a station have to pay for shows they don't carry?

 

[michael hagerty]

Does a station have to pay for shows they don't carry?

Affiliation agreements are not a la carte.

 

[michael hagerty]

John Stewart dropped the hammer tonight.

Yes, he did:

 

[michael hagerty]

I'm sure Joe Rogan is already working on an explanation for his "enlightened" listeners.

It may be a while. He's only today gotten around to the Trump birthday card to Epstein that was made public by Epstein's estate 10 days ago---

‘The F*ck Is Wrong With You?’ Joe Rogan Extremely Creeped Out by Trump’s Letter to Epstein

Joe Rogan cringed his way through the letter President Donald Trump allegedly addressed to the late sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

www.mediaite.com

 

[Loverofradio]

Affiliation agreements are not a la carte.

They do. It’s the reason why my high school football show is only 15 minutes, compared to three other stations who have hour long shows on Friday nights. Other stations pay to push back late night shows. My stations chooses to run Colbert over paying CBS to not run it or run it on time

 

[Loverofradio]

Has anyone mentioned that ABC/Disney did this, in part, because they want the NFL Network purchase to go through?

 

[michael hagerty]

Has anyone mentioned that ABC/Disney did this, in part, because they want the NFL Network purchase to go through?

We haven't talked about it here, but it's being discussed elsewhere:

Pitaro mum on whether NFL deal impacted Disney suspension of ABC host

ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro sidestepped when asked if the company's pending NFL Media deal is impacting Disney's decision making.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

 

[nomadcowatbk]

They do. It’s the reason why my high school football show is only 15 minutes, compared to three other stations who have hour long shows on Friday nights. Other stations pay to push back late night shows. My stations chooses to run Colbert over paying CBS to not run it or run it on time

will they also have to pay to delay whatever replaces Colbert?

 

[Delete My Account]

Once again, there's been no proof of this supposed "leftism" on the part of the accused.

First of all, yes, a relative (possibly two) said he had shifted "leftward." Which is subjective. You ask people I grew up with, I'm practically Marx (not Groucho.) Ask people in my blue region and they'd call me anything from a progressive to a moderate to a "conservative" depending on what issue you were asking about and what they subjectively knew about me or the topic. If I were doing a talk show, I'd likely manage to offend conservatives in one break and the PC left in the next - and then both of them simultaneously.

So far, we only know that he had a transitioning partner and didn't care for Charlie Kirk. A lot of "conservatives" don't either, especially the "groyper" set. The bulk of what we supposedly know about the accused is that he was into games and meme humor and guns. That describes plenty of mostly apolitical people, libertarians, and people whose ideology isn't even on the radar of mainstream party politics in the United States. They don't play by the rules and they're not at party platform committees thinking Biden or Harris are going to save their nihilistic subset of a generation.

Kimmel said that they (MAGA) are rushing to define this guy as "anything other than one of them. Kimmel didn't say what the guy was or is. He didn't say the guy was MAGA. Not once. That's what Brendan Carr said was "truly sick" and gave the FCC a "strong case for action." I'd invite Brendan Carr to listen to Brian Kilmeade suggest we should just exterminate the homeless. Maybe that passes his "community standards" test.

Kimmel upon learning of Kirk's passing posted the following:

“Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”

Jimmy Kimmel didn't say one thing "sick" towards Charlie Kirk or his family. And for anyone who values their freedom as a broadcaster, to put words in his mouth and cheer his current woes, to me, is hypocritical when so much of what is said blatantly every day on cable channels and radio shows they may favor more politically is explicit in its inhumanity and "sickness."

 

[TheBigA]

You are forgetting the fact that the network reacted to a false statement about the Charlie Kirk shooting and suspended their host because he said something that was not correct.

It IS correct, and that's why the MAGAs are all so pissed off. George Stephanopoulos said something that was not correct. His contract was renewed.

 

[davideduardo]

Proof? Source?

All I can say. There are paid services that analyze revenue, station performance and network performance. None of the three "Big Three" network news shows in English was making money as of last year. Big overhead, huge salaries and steeply declining 18-49 numbers.

The bulk of "Prime Time" shows do not make money. The throw-away reality ones are cheaper and make money in their majority. The drama shows (lawyers, doctors, cops and soldiers) don't make immediate money but are fodder for Hulu, Paramount+ and Peacock and, later, for syndication to streaming, cable and local channels.

 

[davideduardo]

ABC has suspended the show, not cancelled it.

Do you really expect it will return? It is cancelled, particularly after his comments about the network.

 

[michael hagerty]

will they also have to pay to delay whatever replaces Colbert?

If it's a network show, yes. As I said, affiliation agreements are not a la carte---you don't get to pick and choose. It's the package and the reason the station pays if the show is pushed back out of its timeslot is that the rate the network can charge for advertising is very different from 12:37-1:37 a.m. than it is between 11:37 p.m. and 12:37 a.m.

A station paying that money to the network is technically making restitution, but really, the fine is there to discourage pre-emptions and delays in the first place.

 

[michael hagerty]

Do you really expect it will return? It is cancelled,

You just keep saying shit that isn't true. Stop it. Now. Preserve the credibility and respect you have remaining.

ABC isn't even calling this a suspension, but rather a pre-emption. They have not breathed the word "cancellation."

I posted this in this thread, earlier in the day. Apparently you missed it:

“Both sides were very businesslike and polite,” one source said.

Walden and Iger made the decision to “preempt” Jimmy Kimmel Live!“indefinitely” to tamp down controversy after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s killer “some of the sickest conduct possible”.

Kimmel made it clear he was unwilling to apologize for his remarks, according to insiders, and was going to direct the focus on President Trump’s most fervent supporters, who have been in uproar since Monday night when Kimmel said the “MAGA gang desperately [is] trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it”.

We hear he was planning to call out some of these supporters, while clarifying his comments.

It’s unclear exactly which comments were considered inflammatory but sources say the phrase “one of them” has been taken out of context.

Disney felt that if he had doubled down, the company would have been forced make a more drastic decision on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s future instead of the announced preemption, sources said

The company hopes that it will be able to have Kimmel back on the air “soon”, per sources, but whether Kimmel himself is willing is also unclear.

Kimmel On Pause: Why Did Disney Preempt Him, Who Made The Call & Will He Come Back?

Jimmy Kimmel learned in a phone call Wednesday afternoon that his 22-year late-night run on ABC was coming to an end, at least for now.

deadline.com

particularly after his comments about the network.

What comments about the network? I can't find any indication that Jimmy has made a statement.

 

[michael hagerty]

All I can say. There are paid services that analyze revenue, station performance and network performance. None of the three "Big Three" network news shows in English was making money as of last year. Big overhead, huge salaries and steeply declining 18-49 numbers.

The bulk of "Prime Time" shows do not make money. The throw-away reality ones are cheaper and make money in their majority. The drama shows (lawyers, doctors, cops and soldiers) don't make immediate money but are fodder for Hulu, Paramount+ and Peacock and, later, for syndication to streaming, cable and local channels.

https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-live.778035/post-6845302

 

[davideduardo]

You just keep saying shit that isn't true. Stop it.

There is no way it is coming back. Anyone who has followed the industry for a while knows that using the word "suspension" is a way of somewhat placating the protesters until this whole thing, hopefully for Disney, blows over.

ABC is calling this a pre-emption, not a suspension.

How many times has a regular network show that was named anything similar returned?

Inside the industry, there has been talk for several years about the future of those late night talk shows. Much was put on hold during the pandemic, where there were opinions of whether those shows had benefitted from people avoiding going "outside". Now, about two years later, it's clear that the revenue in those shows is getting weaker with no sign of recovery.

I posted this in this thread, earlier in the day. Apparently you missed it:

Kimmel On Pause: Why Did Disney Preempt Him, Who Made The Call & Will He Come Back?

Jimmy Kimmel learned in a phone call Wednesday afternoon that his 22-year late-night run on ABC was coming to an end, at least for now.

deadline.com

The article itself makes assumptions, such as saying "Disney felt that if he had doubled down, the company would have been forced make a more drastic decision on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s future instead of the announced preemption, sources said." However, there is no direct quote of any Disney executive saying any such thing. This is an assumption by Deadline. The article is chock full of assumptive comments not supported by anything from an actual Disney spokesperson.

What they did get right is that Kimmel said, “MAGA gang desperately [is] trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it”.

Kimmel was obviously and clearly saying that the "kid" was MAGA and that people who really are MAGA were trying to hide the fact that the "kid" was Maga. I see no other way to interpret that.

There is a pretty interesting analysis of "free speech" by Reuters at https://www.reuters.com/business/me...olated-when-abc-canceled-his-show-2025-09-18/

This gives some reality to what the rights and obligations of both Disney and Kimmel might be.

What comments about the network? I can't find any indication that Jimmy has made a statement.

He made comments after leaving the offices and getting into what looked like a pickup truck.

 

[TheBigA]

Here's another source on the events from Tuesday, the discussions between ABC and Kimmel, and more:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/18/entertainment/abc-jimmy-kimmel-what-comes-next

While no decision has been made on how to move forward, the source said Disney is “hopeful” there is path to bring Kimmel’s show back.

 

[michael hagerty]

There is no way it is coming back. Anyone who has followed the industry for a while knows that using the word "suspension" is a way of somewhat placating the protesters until this whole thing, hopefully for Disney, blows over.

That is not the same thing as "it is canceled." It may end up being canceled. I'd even agree that it's the likeliest outcome. It has not happened yet.

How many times has a regular network show that was named anything similar returned?

I dunno. Apparently there are more than 75 that were outright cancelled and then returned:

75+ Cancelled TV Shows That Came Back! - TVLine

Who doesn't love a good comeback story? In the wake of S.W.A.T. being resurrected again, TVLine is revisiting 75+ cancelled shows that came back.

tvline.com

Inside the industry, there has been talk for several years about the future of those late night talk shows. Much was put on hold during the pandemic, where there were opinions of whether those shows had benefitted from people avoiding going "outside". Now, about two years later, it's clear that the revenue in those shows is getting weaker with no sign of recovery.

But you still have no actual proof that Jimmy Kimmel Live, specifically was losing ABC money. None of us do. You may think that. But---as you yourself have said in correcting posters on this board many times over the years---don't turn an opinion you can't back up into a blanket statement of fact.

The article itself makes assumptions, such as saying "Disney felt that if he had doubled down, the company would have been forced make a more drastic decision on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s future instead of the announced preemption, sources said." However, there is no direct quote of any Disney executive saying any such thing. This is an assumption by Deadline. The article is chock full of assumptive comments not supported by anything from an actual Disney spokesperson.

Really? It looks like a story with several sources all on background.

What they did get right is that Kimmel said, “MAGA gang desperately [is] trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it”.

Kimmel was obviously and clearly saying that the "kid" was MAGA and that people who really are MAGA were trying to hide the fact that the "kid" was Maga. I see no other way to interpret that.

The only way Kimmel could be obviously and clearly saying that would be for him to say it. He did not. That's your interpretation. And you're the guy who said that Colbert's Emmy speech about how much he loves his country was "loaded with snark", so there we are.

He made comments after leaving the offices and getting into what looked like a pickup truck.

This what you're referring to?

‘F–king livid’ Jimmy Kimmel, sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez spotted leaving LA studio after ABC yanks ‘Live!’ from air

The duo, spotted leaving the studio separately, appeared visibly downcast after news broke that ABC had pulled the program from the air.

nypost.com