The Sinclair ABC stations go beyond Charlie Kirk Special, Air ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ Rerun
Friday, Sinclair had planned to replace the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Time of time on his stations affiliated with the ABC with a special new segment on Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was murdered earlier this month.
But the owner of the television group suddenly reversed the course – saying that he had decided to manage the Kirk Special on Youtube, not on its local stations ABC, so that “viewers can continue to take advantage of the ABC program”. Friday, the one hour niche at 11:35 p.m. on ABC was a replay of “Celebrity Family Feud” organized by Steve Harvey. ABC directed “Celebrity Family Feud” EPS on September 17 and 18 after having “indefinitely” suspended Kimmel’s show on comments on the air that he made on the Kirk killer.
Sinclair said in a statement published Friday at 11:24 pm: “Tonight, Sinclair will continue to broadcast the programming of the ABC network as planned in the end of night period. The Special Charlie Kirk will rather be available on the National News Desk Youtube channel, guaranteeing viewers can continue to take advantage of the ABC programming while providing full access to the special line. ”
Sinclair, with Nexstar Media Group, another great ABC affiliate, said on September 17 that they pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” From their alignments on what Kimmel said in his show on Monday: “We hit new stockings during the weekend with the gang Maga trying desperately to characterize the child who murdered Charlie Kirk as something other than one of them, and do everything they can to score political points.” The supporters of Maga, interpreting it as Kimmel saying that the Kirk murderer was “one of them”, became indignant. The announcements of Nexstar and Sinclair were preceded by the comments of the President of the FCC, Brendan Carr, made on a conservative podcast, which strongly implies ABC and its affiliates would be targeted by the agency if they have not “taken” it in Kimmel (in other words, withdraw its program). “We can do it the simplest way or the hard way,” said Carr.
Following the pressure of affiliates and the threat of Carr, an ABC spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday: “” Jimmy Kimmel Live! “Will be pre -emptied indefinitely.” Kimmel did not comment on the question. Variety Friday that Kimmel and Disney talked to a compromise to bring the show back in waves.
Sinclair, well known for its conservative policy, said on Wednesday that before he plans to return “Kimmel” to his ABC affiliates, Kimmel must apologize to the Kirk family and send them a “significant personal gift” as well as Turning Point USA, the Kirk organization founded.
“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive to a critical moment for our country,” said the vice-president of Sinclair, Jason Smith the broadcasters by the major national networks. »»
55 -minute special of Sinclair on Kirk, entitled “The National News Desk: Special Edition; The Life and Legacy of Charlie Kirk, “was described by the point of sale like this:” We are going to take a deepened look not only on the life and inheritance of Charlie Kirk, but also on questions of political violence in America, the future of politics and state exhibitions in the United States. of American democracy.
Sinclair operates 38 ABC affiliates, including Wjla (Washington, DC); Komo (Seattle); KDNL (St. Louis); Katv (Little Rock, Ark.); Ktul (Tulsa, okla.); WTVC (Chattanooga, Tenn.); and WCIV (Charleston, SC).
For the record, the episode of “Celebrity Family Feud” which was broadcast on Friday on ABC stations was initially broadcast on August 21. He featured the singer Normani in competition with actor-comedian Michelle Buteau, followed by actor-comedian Andy Richter by fighting Jason Ritter. The performance price of the entertainment goes to the selected charitable organizations of celebrity.
