The Late-Night Showdown: Why Nexstar Affiliates Are Bumping Jimmy Kimmel for Local News

Late-night television is usually a reliable fixture in American homes, but for a growing number of viewers, the familiar face of Jimmy Kimmel is being replaced by local news anchors. The culprit? A strategic decision by Nexstar Media Group, which owns several ABC affiliates, to consistently pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! in favor of airing their own local newscasts at the coveted 11:35 PM ET slot.

This isn't a new phenomenon, but the renewed prominence of this scheduling conflict is drawing significant ire from loyal Kimmel fans.

Across markets served by Nexstar-owned ABC stations, viewers expecting their nightly dose of celebrity interviews and topical humor are instead greeted by extended local reports, often branded under Nexstar’s "News Nation" umbrella. The move underscores Nexstar's aggressive push to bolster its local news presence and potentially elevate its own national news brand, even if it means clashing with network programming.

The impact on viewers has been swift and vocal.

Social media platforms are buzzing with complaints from frustrated fans in markets like Columbus, Georgia (WRBL) and Charleston, South Carolina (WCBD), who feel their late-night entertainment options are being unilaterally dictated. Many are now resorting to streaming Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Hulu the following day, a workaround that disrupts the traditional live viewing experience and could have long-term implications for broadcast viewership metrics.

For ABC and its parent company, Disney, these pre-emptions present a multi-faceted challenge.

Lost viewership in these key markets translates directly to potential revenue loss from national advertising. Furthermore, it dilutes the network's carefully curated prime-time and late-night programming flow, potentially weakening the overall brand presence. While network-affiliate relationships are often a delicate balance of shared interests and contractual obligations, Nexstar's consistent prioritization of local news highlights an ongoing tension, where local station autonomy can sometimes override national network strategies.

This situation serves as a stark reminder of the evolving landscape of television.

As traditional viewing habits shift and streaming services gain dominance, the battle for eyeballs extends beyond direct competition to internal programming conflicts within the broadcasting ecosystem. Whether Nexstar's gamble on local news will ultimately benefit its bottom line more than the cost of alienating a segment of network viewers and potentially straining affiliate relations remains to be seen.

What's clear, however, is that for many late-night enthusiasts, the struggle to simply watch their favorite show live is becoming an unexpected and unwelcome part of their nightly routine.