ABC Firing Jimmy Kimmel – Why It’s the End of Broadcast TV

September 20, 2025

ABC just made Jimmy Kimmel their biggest competitor.

Here’s why this could mark the beginning of the end for broadcast TV — and why the audience, not the networks, now holds the power.

When Networks Forget Who Holds the Remote

ABC and Disney just made what may go down as one of the most self-destructive decisions in television history: parting ways with Jimmy Kimmel. For decades, late-night hosts like Kimmel, Letterman, and Carson weren’t just entertainers — they were cultural touchstones.

But this move doesn’t just hurt ABC. It underscores how completely out of touch broadcast TV has become with its viewers.

The Shift Away from Broadcast TV

We’re no longer in the three-network era. Viewers don’t sit passively, waiting for a network to tell them what to watch at 10:35 p.m. They stream Wednesday on Netflix, binge Succession on Max, or catch up with political satire on YouTube and TikTok.

The networks seem to think they can punish or “cancel” a personality and keep the audience. What they don’t realize is that the audience now has unlimited options — and they will follow the talent, not the network logo.

Kimmel’s Next Chapter Will Be Bigger

History shows us that talent who leave broadcast TV often land on their feet — and bigger than ever. Howard Stern left terrestrial radio, went to SiriusXM, and built an even larger, freer platform. It’s not hard to imagine Jimmy Kimmel landing on Netflix, Prime, or even launching his own digital channel with millions of loyal fans tuning in on their own schedule.

When that happens, ABC won’t just have lost a host — they’ll have created a competitor.

The Real Lesson for CEOs

This decision proves what so many in tech and media are learning the hard way: you can’t force loyalty, and you can’t control the conversation. Viewers decide where the eyeballs — and the ad dollars — go.

If ABC’s leadership thinks they’ve “won” by cutting Kimmel loose, they’re about to find out what happens when the viewers cut them loose.

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Pink Money Take

This isn’t just about late-night TV. It’s about knowing when to walk away from systems that no longer serve you — whether that’s a job, a bank, or yes, even a TV network. Power today belongs to the people who create, connect, and build their own platforms.

And like Jimmy Kimmel, you can too.

By Jerry Williams, MS-PFP

🔗 Read the full article on Substack → ABC’s Firing of Jimmy Kimmel: The Day Broadcast TV Dug Its Own Grave

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