These IL TV Stations Still Won't Air Jimmy Kimmel

While Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to televisions across Illinois on Tuesday, not all stations in the state are on board with the move. Kimmel's late night talk show was suspended last week in response to the comedian's comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Broadcaster Sinclair Inc. announced late Monday on social media that it would not air the talk show on its ABC stations.

"Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming," the company said in a post on X. "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return."

Sinclair owns 39 ABC stations, including WICS in Springfield and WICD in Champaign, according to its website.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc., which owns WGN-TV out of Chicago, is also boycotting the show on its ABC affiliates, as reported by the New York Times. The ABC affiliate in Chicago is owned and operated by ABC and will air Kimmel's program. However, Nexstar owns WTVO in Illinois, an ABC affiliate out of Rockford, which will not air the show.

Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair, two of the biggest corporate owners of ABC affiliate stations, represent 66 of the 230 that air ABC programming.

RELATED: Jimmy Kimmel's Show Suspended By ABC Over Comments About Charlie Kirk

Disney suspended the show to "avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country," the company said in a statement Monday.

In the opening monologue of his Sept. 15 show, Kimmel focused on the reaction to the assassination of Kirk.

"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said.

Kirk, 31, a native of Arlington Heights and a Wheeling High School graduate, was shot and killed Sept. 10 during a speaking tour stop at Utah Valley University.

Sinclair said last week it would not air "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on any of its stations until "formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network's commitment to professionalism and accountability."

The company also called upon Kimmel to "issue a direct apology to the Kirk family. Furthermore, we ask Mr. Kimmel to make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA."

The suspension was celebrated by President Donald Trump, who said it was "great news for America," and suggested federal regulators should revoke broadcast licenses over late-night hosts who speak negatively about him.

Kimmel's suspension also prompted swift condemnation, including from fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert, who called the suspension a "blatant assault on freedom of speech." Protests have been held outside Disney's studio lot in Burbank and outside the El Capitan Entertainment Complex on Hollywood Boulevard, where Kimmel's show is based.

Patch Editor Anna Schier and The Associated Press contributed to this report.