Sinclair to air Kimmel's show again starting Friday

Sinclair is returning late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's show to air starting Friday, the company announced.

Sinclair, which owns and operates nearly 40 ABC affiliate stations, announced the return three days after Disney's ABC allowed Kimmel's show back on air following a nearly week-long suspension, NBC News reported. ABC had temporarily suspended the show after Kimmel made comments about the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience. We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming,” Sinclair said in a statement on Friday.

“Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives,” Sinclair said. “We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important.”