Sinclair's ABC Stations Bypass Charlie Kirk Special After Kimmel Suspension

Sinclair's ABC Stations Did Not Air Charlie Kirk Special as Planned After Kimmel Suspension, Carried 'Celebrity Family Feud' Rerun Instead In a surprise move, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced on Friday that its ABC-affiliated stations would not air a planned special news segment on conservative activist Charlie Kirk after the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! However, instead of airing the Kirk special, the stations carried a rerun of "Celebrity Family Feud." According to sources, Sinclair had initially planned to replace the Kimmel show with the Kirk special, which was set to air on Friday evening. The decision was reportedly made in response to ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the network faced pressure from the Trump administration. However, in a statement released on Saturday morning, Sinclair announced that it would instead make the Kirk special available on its YouTube channel, citing a desire to allow viewers to continue enjoying "ABC programming" without interruption. The move was seen as an attempt by Sinclair to distance itself from the controversy surrounding ABC's decision to suspend Kimmel. "We understand that our viewers value their access to ABC programming," said a spokesperson for Sinclair. "We are committed to providing them with the content they want, and we believe this decision will allow us to do just that." The move has sparked criticism from some who see it as an attempt by Sinclair to exert its influence over local broadcasting. "This is just another example of Sinclair's efforts to undermine the integrity of local news," said a spokesperson for the National Association of Broadcasters. In related news, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner weighed in on the controversy, criticizing ABC's decision to suspend Kimmel and calling it a "caving" to pressure from the Trump administration. "ABC stands for Always Be Caving," Eisner tweeted. The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! has sparked a heated debate over free speech and the role of media in society. The incident has also raised questions about the influence of corporate interests on local broadcasting. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Sinclair's decision will impact its relationship with ABC and the broader media landscape. *Reporting by Variety.*