Disney Hesitant to Renew Jimmy Kimmel's Contract Amid High Costs
Jimmy Kimmel's contract with Disney is set to expire in May, and despite his show's growing ratings, the company is reportedly hesitant to renew it. According to Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer of the Walt Disney Company, late-night television is a 'very challenging day part' due to its high costs.
Walden stated that while Kimmel's ratings have increased after CBS axed The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, they are still relatively low compared to other daytime programming. She emphasized that the company is trying to make sense of the business and balance Kimmel's desire for a new deal with the financial realities of running a late-night talk show.
One possible solution is for Kimmel to take the summers off, as he has done in the past. However, this would require significant changes to his contract and may not be feasible given the show's continued popularity during the summer months.