Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Disney Weighs Jimmy Kimmel’s Late-Night Future at ABC
Jimmy Kimmel hosts a late-night show on ABC.
People are wondering whether he will keep hosting in the future.
Disney executive Dana Walden did not give a yes-or-no answer.
She said late-night TV is a difficult business, even though Kimmel’s ratings have risen compared with the smaller audience watching broadcast late-night shows.
Many people watch parts of the show on YouTube, but Walden said those views do not bring in enough money for a premium talk show.
She said Disney wants to consider both the business and its relationship with Kimmel.
Kimmel’s current extension covers the 2026–27 season.
ABC said earlier reports that he would leave after his contract expires in May 2027 were speculative.
Disney president Dana Walden declined to say whether Jimmy Kimmel will host his show a year from now.
Walden called late-night television a challenging business, while praising Kimmel’s work and noting his ratings are up relative to a smaller broadcast audience.
She said millions watch clips on YouTube but that this is not a lucrative opportunity for a premium talk show.
Walden said Disney is trying to balance the business case with its partnership with Kimmel and what he wants.
Kimmel’s one-year extension, signed in December 2025, keeps him hosting during the 2026–27 season; ABC called reports he would step back after his contract expires in May 2027 “purely speculative.”
- Who
- Jimmy Kimmel and Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden.
- What
- Disney is considering the business and partnership questions surrounding the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Walden did not confirm whether Kimmel will continue hosting.
- When
- Walden discussed the show during an appearance on Bloomberg’s Screentime. Kimmel’s extension covers the 2026–27 season, and his contract is reported to expire in May 2027.
- Where
- ABC; Walden made her comments on Bloomberg’s Screentime.
- Why
- Walden described late-night broadcast television as challenging and said YouTube views are not a lucrative opportunity for a premium talk show.
Business concerns
Show and partnership value
Whether the show makes business sense
Business concerns
Walden said late-night is a challenging daypart and that YouTube views are not a lucrative opportunity for a premium talk show.
Show and partnership value
Walden praised Kimmel’s work, said his ratings are up relative to the smaller broadcast audience, and described a deep partnership and friendship with him.
Whether Kimmel will continue hosting
Business concerns
Reports cited in the article said Kimmel might step back after his contract expires in May 2027, and Walden declined to announce whether he would host a year later.
Show and partnership value
ABC called those reports purely speculative, and Kimmel’s one-year extension covers the 2026–27 season.
- Show
- Jimmy Kimmel Live
- Network
- ABC
- Disney executive
- Dana Walden, president and chief creative officer
- Extension
- A one-year extension signed in December 2025 covers the 2026–27 season.
- Reported contract expiry
- May 2027
- Reported annual pay
- About $16 million
- ABC response
- ABC called reports that Kimmel would step back after his contract expires “purely speculative.”