Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban comments on the recent suspension of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

Mark Cuban, billionaire, former Shark Tank star, and never shy about saying what’s on his mind, just chimed in on the chaos around Jimmy Kimmel Live! After Jimmy cracked a joke about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s death, ABC hit pause on the show, only to bring it back a few days later.

But not everyone’s tuning back in. Sinclair and Nexstar, two giant TV station groups, decided they’re done airing Kimmel altogether, pulling it from dozens of cities like Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Portland. Cuban, watching it all unfold, jumped on X to warn that this kind of move could actually hurt broadcast TV even more, and let’s be real, network television wasn’t exactly thriving before all this drama.

What did Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban say about Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s suspension?

Mark Cuban took to X to express his concerns about Sinclair and Nexstar's decision to drop "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" from their programming lineup. He warned that this move could have unintended consequences for the broadcast television industry.

"This might backfire in the long run," Cuban wrote in his social media post.

The billionaire investor Mark Cuban pointed to existing trends where broadcast networks have already moved their premium scripted content to streaming platforms. This shift leaves traditional television with primarily sports, news, and reality programming. Mark Cuban argued that reducing scripted show investments would fundamentally alter the economic structure of broadcast television. He suggested this could create a damaging cycle for the entire industry.

Sinclair and Nexstar, two of the biggest local TV station groups in the U.S., pulled the plug on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for good from their ABC channels.

The blackout hits dozens of markets, covering almost a quarter of ABC’s affiliates, so cities like Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Portland won’t be seeing Jimmy’s late-night antics anymore.

The move shows that local stations can flex their independence when network content clashes with their standards or what they think their viewers want, and neither Sinclair nor Nexstar said a word when asked for comment. Despite the reduced distribution, Kimmel's return episode on Tuesday drew significant viewership numbers. Disney reported that 6.26 million viewers tuned in for the comeback broadcast.

This audience figure far exceeded the show's recent performance metrics. "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged only 1.77 million viewers during the second quarter of 2025. Kimmel's opening monologue also generated substantial digital engagement, accumulating over 26 million views across YouTube and social media platforms.

The strong comeback numbers suggest viewer interest in the controversy and Kimmel's response to the suspension.

What are the broader industry challenges?

Mark Cuban's concerns reflect deeper structural problems facing broadcast television. Nielsen's The Gauge data shows broadcast TV accounts for just 18.5% of total television usage as of June 2025.

Meanwhile, streaming platforms have captured 46% of viewing time, representing a dramatic shift in audience behavior. This represents a new low for broadcast television's market share. The late-night television genre faces particular challenges in this changing landscape. Traditional linear television continues losing ground to on-demand streaming options. For networks, losing affiliate distribution creates a destructive cycle where smaller audiences make expensive scripted programming harder to justify financially.

Mark Cuban's warning about changing economics highlights how content disputes can accelerate broadcast television's decline. When major affiliate groups drop programming, it reduces potential advertising revenue and audience reach.

This dynamic could force networks to further reduce investment in original programming, potentially pushing more content exclusively to streaming platforms where subscription models provide different economic incentives.

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You can watch Shark Tank every Friday at 8/7c on ABC, with episodes available the next day on Hulu.

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