Disney President addresses future of Jimmy Kimmel Live

Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden has addressed the uncertain future of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ during the Bloomberg Screentime conference. While Walden praised Kimmel’s performance and noted his rising ratings, she highlighted the significant economic challenges facing the late-night broadcast television sector.

Walden explained that while the show maintains a strong presence on platforms like YouTube, digital views do not provide the same lucrative advertising revenue as traditional broadcast television. She stated that the company is attempting to balance a ‘deep partnership’ with Kimmel against the business realities of a shrinking late-night audience.

Kimmel’s current contract is set to run through the 2026-27 season. Although previous reports suggested he might step down after his contract expires, ABC has officially denied those claims, labeling them as ‘speculative.’ Walden declined to confirm any specific plans regarding a contract renewal, noting that the company must consider both Kimmel’s wishes and the needs of the business.