Disney (DIS) is preparing for a potential showdown with President Donald Trump after bringing ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel back on the air. The tension comes as Kimmel’s comeback episode delivered his best ratings in more than a decade, putting both the company and its popular host squarely in the spotlight.
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Last week, Disney-owned ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air after the host made controversial remarks about the alleged killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Later on, Disney decided to bring back the show with the return episode on Tuesday. The late-night show, hosted by comedian Kimmel since 2003, is known for celebrity interviews, sharp comedy, and political commentary.
Kimmel’s Ratings Hit Ten-Year Peak
Kimmel’s comeback episode after his brief suspension drew a massive 6.26 million viewers, his biggest audience for a regular episode in more than 10 years, according to early Nielsen data. That’s nearly four times his usual 1.6 million nightly viewers. Additionally, Kimmel’s opening monologue, which strongly defended free speech while poking fun at Trump, also racked up over 15 million views on its YouTube channel.
ABC noted the surge came despite the episode being blacked out in about 23% of U.S. homes because major ABC affiliates Nexstar (NXST) and Sinclair (SBGI) refused to air it after Kimmel’s controversial comments. Nexstar said it is having “productive discussions” with Disney to review the future of the show on its ABC local stations. For now, Nexstar will continue to pause the show.
Trump vs. Disney
Disney is bracing for a possible Trump retaliation after bringing Kimmel back on air. The administration has reportedly threatened to revoke licenses for Disney’s local stations. While Disney’s legal team is confident about defending the licenses, the outcome of current and future deals remains uncertain.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told his show was canceled!” He added that the last time he confronted the network, he received $16 million. He suggested that the current situation could be even more profitable, dismissing the network as “a bunch of losers” and adding that Kimmel should face the consequences of his low ratings.
Trump had earlier praised ABC’s decision to suspend the show, calling it “Great news for America.”
Is Disney a Good Stock to Buy Now?
On TipRanks, DIS stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 20 Buys and three Holds assigned in the last three months. The average Disney stock price target of $136.70 implies a 20.5% upside from current levels.
