Long-term financial trends
The controversy is playing out against a backdrop of long-term financial headwinds for traditional late-night television, which complicates advertisers' decisions.
- Declining viewership: Industry data shows that Kimmel's ratings, along with those of other late-night hosts, have been declining for years. As of mid-2025, Kimmel was losing significant viewership, particularly in the key 18–49 advertising demographic.
- Decreased ad revenue: Correspondingly, broadcast late-night ad revenue has also dropped considerably, falling from $439 million in 2018 to $220 million in 2024, according to ad data companies.
- Impact of affiliate boycott: The decision by major affiliate groups like Sinclair and Nexstar to preempt the show on their local channels, potentially impacting over a quarter of U.S. markets, could significantly affect the show's future ad revenue, regardless of its reinstatement.