Disneys No. 2 exec gives telling clue about Jimmy Kimmels future at ABC

A top Disney executive refused to say whether ABC will renew Jimmy Kimmel’s contract, throwing in some ominous remarks about the late-night funnyman’s future.“I’m not going to make that announcement here with you today,” Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden said Thursday at a Bloomberg conference when asked whether Kimmel would remain at the network.The host signed a one-year extension in December of last year that keeps him behind the desk at “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” through the 2026-27 season.He reportedly makes about $16 million a year.“The truth is, it’s a very challenging daypart,” Walden said, using the TV-industry term for a block of the broadcast schedule.“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.”Walden’s comments came less than a month after Page Six reported that Kimmel’s show was expected to end when his current deal expires in May 2027.“His contract is not getting extended,” a source familiar with the situation told Page Six.ABC pushed back at the time.“[This] information is inaccurate — any reports about the future of the show at this point are purely speculative,” an ABC Entertainment spokesperson said.As she hedged her remarks, Walden on Thursday pointed to broader financial pressures facing the late-night business.Kimmel has a sizable audience on YouTube and other social platforms, but Walden said those views generate only a fraction of the revenue that comes from traditional television advertising.“That is not a lucrative opportunity for a very premium talk show,” she said.“We’re trying to make sense of the business while also honoring a deep partnership,” Walden added.“I love Jimmy, we have great friendship.He’s close to a number of the people at Disney.

We’re trying to work through it and make sense of, what does Jimmy want, what’s...