The future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! beyond its current season remains undecided, with Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden acknowledging Thursday that the economics of late-night television have become increasingly difficult.
During the Bloomberg Screentime conference, Walden was asked whether Jimmy Kimmel would remain with ABC after his current contract expires. Kimmel signed a one-year extension in December 2025 that keeps him with the network through the 2026-27 television season.
Walden stopped short of making any announcement about what comes next.
“The truth is, it’s a very challenging daypart,” Walden said, while also noting that Kimmel continues to perform well. “That’s not to say that Jimmy is not doing a phenomenal job, and his ratings are up. But they’re up relative to a smaller audience that’s watching late night on broadcast television.”
That shrinking television audience appears to be a major part of the conversation happening behind the scenes. Jimmy Kimmel Live! has developed a sizable audience on YouTube and social media, but Walden explained that digital views don’t generate the same level of revenue as traditional television advertising. For an expensive network talk show, that creates a difficult equation for Disney and ABC.
Still, Walden made it clear that the discussions involve more than dollars and cents. Kimmel has been with ABC since Jimmy Kimmel Live! debuted in 2003, making his relationship with the network one that stretches back more than two decades.
“We’re trying to make sense of the business while also honoring a deep partnership,” Walden said. She added that Disney is working through what Kimmel wants, what makes sense for him, and what works for the company going forward.
The Hollywood Reporter says questions surrounding the show’s future intensified in September following a report that Kimmel’s contract would not be renewed. ABC denied that report, although subsequent reporting has pointed to discussions about reducing the show’s costs.
For now, Jimmy Kimmel Live! isn’t going anywhere. Kimmel remains under contract through the current 2026-27 season. What happens after that, however, is still being worked out between the longtime host and Disney.
