Disney president Dana Walden has raised doubts about the business case for late-night television while praising Jimmy Kimmel’s performance and leaving open discussions about his future with ABC.
Speaking to Bloomberg’s Screentime, Walden described late-night programming as “very challenging” in its traditional broadcast television slot. She said Kimmel’s ratings were increasing, but added that they were rising within a smaller overall late-night audience.
“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 said.
Kimmel’s online reach has also grown through clips posted on YouTube. However, Walden said that audience did not make the programme financially attractive enough to support “a very premium talk show”.
“I love Jimmy. We have a great friendship,” she said, adding that he was close to several people at Disney. Walden said the company was trying to balance Kimmel’s wishes with what was right for the business.
Her comments come after ABC rejected a report last month that it would not renew Kimmel’s contract when it expires in May 2027. At the time, a source said Kimmel was pitching other programmes and podcasts around Hollywood.
Kimmel was briefly taken off air last year after ABC suspended him over remarks he made about Charlie Kirk’s death. He returned six days later and attracted 6.26 million viewers, the programme’s largest regularly scheduled audience in more than a decade.
Walden’s remarks suggest that, despite Disney’s support for Kimmel personally and recognition of his recent ratings, the financial sustainability of late-night television remains central to discussions over his future.
