Disney (DIS) Braces for Trump Showdown as Kimmel Shatters Ratings Records
Media giant Disney faces political firestorm while late-night cash machine delivers unprecedented viewership numbers.
Trump vs. Mickey Mouse
The House of Mouse finds itself in an unlikely political arena as former President Trump targets the entertainment conglomerate. Disney stock faces volatility amid escalating tensions that could reshape media landscape dynamics.
Kimmel's Unstoppable Momentum
Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel's late-night program achieves what analysts thought impossible in the streaming era - breaking traditional television records while digital platforms struggle for engagement. The show's performance defies industry trends, delivering advertising revenue that makes Wall Street's traditional media projections look downright conservative.
As legacy media navigates political crossfires, Kimmel's success proves content remains king - even if the crown comes with unexpected political complications. Another reminder that in entertainment, as in crypto, fundamentals often outperform political noise.
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Last week, Disney-owned ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air after the host made controversial remarks about the alleged killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Later on, Disney decided to bring back the show with the return episode on Tuesday. The late-night show, hosted by comedian Kimmel since 2003, is known for celebrity interviews, sharp comedy, and political commentary.
Kimmel Ratings Hit Ten-Year Peak
Kimmel’s comeback episode after his brief suspension drew a massive 6.26 million viewers, his biggest audience for a regular episode in more than 10 years, according to early Nielsen data. That’s nearly four times his usual 1.6 million nightly viewers. Additionally, Kimmel’s opening monologue, which strongly defended free speech while poking fun at Trump, also racked up over 15 million views on its YouTube channel.
ABC noted the surge came despite the episode being blacked out in about 23% of U.S. homes because major ABC affiliates Nexstar (NXST) and Sinclair (SBGI) refused to air it after Kimmel’s controversial comments. Nexstar said it is having “productive discussions” with Disney to review the future of the show on its ABC local stations. For now, Nexstar will continue to pause the show.
Trump vs. Disney
Disney is bracing for a possible Trump retaliation after bringing Kimmel back on air. The administration has reportedly threatened to revoke licenses for Disney’s local stations. While Disney’s legal team is confident about defending the licenses, the outcome of current and future deals remains uncertain.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The WHITE House was told his show was canceled!” He also added that the last time he confronted the network, he received $16 million. He suggested that the current situation could be even more profitable, dismissing the network as “a bunch of losers” and adding that Kimmel should face the consequences of his low ratings.
Trump had earlier praised ABC’s decision to suspend the show, calling it “Great news for America.”
Is Disney a Good Stock to Buy Now?
On TipRanks, DIS stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 20 Buys and three Holds assigned in the last three months. The average Disney stock price target of $136.70 implies a 20.5% upside from current levels.
