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ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” has made the decision to post an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico on YouTube rather than air it during the show’s broadcast. Host Jimmy Kimmel announced the change during Wednesday’s episode, citing concerns about potential regulatory pressure from federal authorities that could jeopardize the network’s local station licenses.
Kimmel stated that the interview would be available in full on the show’s YouTube channel instead of television. He explained that the move was made with consideration for ABC’s affiliated stations, particularly those in Texas, which could face complications from regulatory action. This marks the second major late-night talk show to redirect a Talarico interview away from traditional broadcast in recent months, following a similar situation involving CBS’s “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” in February.
The host drew attention to a significant shift in how such interviews are being treated, noting that candidates have appeared on late-night programming for decades without incident. He contrasted this with the current climate, suggesting that the regulatory environment has changed. Kimmel emphasized that despite these obstacles, viewers interested in learning about the Senate candidate would be able to access the full interview online.
Talarico’s previous media appearance generated substantial engagement, with the Colbert interview garnering 9.5 million YouTube views and the candidate’s campaign raising $2.5 million within 24 hours of that broadcast restriction being revealed.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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