Advertisers pull out, leading ABC to anticipate financial losses due to Kimmel's dismissal
Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk took the stage during a Turning Point Action 'United for Change' campaign rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 24, 2024. This event sparked a series of events that led to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", by ABC.
The decision to pull the show off the air was made by Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden, following controversial comments made about Charlie Kirk by Jimmy Kimmel. The suspension has raised questions about the impact on ABC's advertising revenue, as the show had been a staple on ABC for over two decades and reportedly carried advertising from over 200 different brands, including Allstate, McDonald's, Starbucks, and Kit Kat.
In addition to these top spenders, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has also run ads for Venmo, JCPenney, Smirnoff, Instacart, and AT&T this year. About 12% of the show's ad slots were used by ABC to promote its own programming.
The suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was first reported by FOX Business on Thursday. As of Wednesday, ABC had not responded to FOX Business' request for comment regarding the suspension. On Wednesday night, ABC filled the vacated late-night slot with a rerun of Celebrity Family Feud.
Despite the decline in spending on late-night programming across ABC, CBS, and NBC, shows such as "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" continued to have cultural weight and functioned as valuable branding platforms. However, the suspension may lead advertisers to seek cheaper rates or placement elsewhere.
As of year-to-date, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" brought in close to $70 million in ad revenue for ABC. The show's suspension is a significant development in the world of late-night television, and its impact on the industry remains to be seen.
Read also:
- Federal petition from CEI seeking federal intervention against state climate disclosure laws, alleging these laws negatively impact interstate commerce and surpass constitutional boundaries.
- Duty on cotton imported into India remains unchanged, as U.S. tariffs escalate to their most severe levels yet
- Steak 'n Shake CEO's supposed poor leadership criticism sparks retaliation from Cracker Barrel, accusing him of self-interest
- Hydrogen Energy: Sustainable Innovation or Resource Exploitation?
