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Fact check: Did abc workers sign contracts with nbc after Kimmel was canceled

Checked on September 26, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the comprehensive analysis of multiple sources, there is no evidence whatsoever that ABC workers signed contracts with NBC following Jimmy Kimmel's show suspension or cancellation. All nine sources examined across three separate analysis rounds consistently failed to provide any information supporting this claim [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].

The sources instead reveal a different narrative entirely. Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended "indefinitely" by ABC following threats from Trump's FCC chair, but the show was subsequently reinstated [2] [4]. This suspension and reinstatement process appears to have been resolved within ABC's own network structure, with no indication of mass employee defections to competing networks.

Interestingly, the analyses reveal that some affiliate broadcasters chose not to air Kimmel's show even after ABC brought it back [4]. This suggests the controversy had broader implications for local stations, but again, no evidence emerges of workers jumping ship to NBC or any other network.

The search results also captured unrelated content, including information about the Associated Builders and Contractors organization [5] and a separate NBC News digital editorial staff contract negotiation that took over four years to resolve [8]. However, these findings are completely unrelated to the ABC-Kimmel situation and provide no support for the original claim.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the actual timeline and resolution of the Kimmel controversy. The sources indicate that while Jimmy Kimmel's show faced suspension, it was ultimately brought back by ABC [1] [4]. This suggests that rather than a permanent cancellation leading to mass employee exodus, the situation was more of a temporary suspension followed by reinstatement.

The question also fails to acknowledge the complex relationship between networks and their affiliate stations. The evidence shows that some local broadcasters made independent decisions not to air Kimmel's content even after ABC's reinstatement [4], indicating that the controversy's impact was more nuanced than a simple cancellation-and-defection scenario.

Furthermore, the question assumes a direct causal relationship between Kimmel's troubles and employee movement to NBC, but no evidence exists in any analyzed source to support such a connection. The only NBC-related contract information found pertains to NBC's own internal digital editorial staff negotiations [8], which appears to be an entirely separate matter unrelated to ABC or Kimmel.

The absence of any reporting on such employee transfers is itself significant. If ABC workers had indeed signed contracts with NBC following Kimmel's suspension, this would likely constitute major industry news that entertainment and media outlets would extensively cover.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears to contain a fundamental factual error by treating Kimmel's temporary suspension as a permanent cancellation. The evidence clearly shows that Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended but then brought back by ABC [1] [4], making the premise of the question questionable from the outset.

The question may be based on speculation or rumors rather than verified information. The complete absence of any supporting evidence across multiple comprehensive searches suggests that this claim may have originated from unsubstantiated social media posts, gossip, or deliberate misinformation designed to create controversy around the Kimmel situation.

There's also a potential conflation of different types of "ABC" entities. Some search results captured information about the Associated Builders and Contractors organization [5], which shares the same acronym but is completely unrelated to the television network. This could indicate confusion in the original source of the claim.

The question's framing assumes mass employee defection occurred, which would be an extraordinary industry event requiring substantial documentation and reporting. The complete lack of evidence for such transfers suggests either the question is based on false information or represents a misunderstanding of normal industry employment practices.

The timing and context surrounding Trump's FCC chair threats [2] may have created an environment ripe for speculation and rumors about network instability, potentially contributing to unfounded claims about employee movements between competing networks.

Want to dive deeper?
What were the terms of the contracts signed by abc workers with nbc?
How did the cancellation of Kimmel affect abc workers' contract negotiations with nbc?
Which abc workers signed contracts with nbc after Kimmel's cancellation?