ABC has extended Jimmy Kimmel’s contract by nearly one year, and that means he will remain as the host of the Late Night show.
The deal was said to have been agreed upon months before but shared only recently amid ongoing industry shifts, entailing the planned end of Stephen Colbert’s show, seen on CBS.
This renewal comes after a serious controversy that arose in the fall.
ABC both suspended and pulled Kimmel’s show from the air after he made on-air comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Some of the affiliates, including the likes of Nexstar and Sinclair stations, refused to air those shows amid this backlash.
The FCC chairman publicly criticized the renowned network regarding Kimmel’s remarks. These developments gave rise to a major debate linked to media speech, regulatory pressure, and broadcast standards.
After a few days off this schedule, the ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel despite the wave of controversy linked to his return to the air without a formal apology for comments he made about Charlie Kirk.
This led to a massive uproar, and his comeback drew strong ratings across the board. This became one of the highest-viewed in recent seasons, which most likely bolstered his strong negotiating position.