Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-01**Lead**
Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden sidestepped a direct question Wednesday about whether Jimmy Kimmel will remain host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after his current contract expires, leaving industry insiders and fans guessing about the future of the network’s flagship late-night program. Speaking at the Code Conference in Los Angeles, Walden was asked by a moderator if Kimmel would be back for another season. She paused, smiled, and replied, “Jimmy is a tremendous talent, and we love working with him. I don’t have any announcements to make today.” The non-answer, captured on video and widely shared on social media, immediately sparked a flurry of reports that ABC may be preparing for a transition.
**Contexto**
Jimmy Kimmel, 58, has hosted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003, making him the longest-tenured host in ABC’s late-night history. His current contract, signed in 2023, is widely believed to run through the 2025-2026 television season, though exact terms have never been disclosed by the network. Kimmel has publicly hinted at retirement in recent years, telling the Los Angeles Times in 2024 that he thinks about “winding down” and spending more time with his family. He also took a summer hiatus in 2025, during which guest hosts including John Mulaney, Sarah Silverman, and Kenan Thompson filled in, drawing strong ratings for the network.
ABC has been under pressure to modernize its late-night lineup amid declining linear television viewership and the rise of streaming. The network’s parent company, Disney, has been cutting costs across its entertainment divisions, including layoffs at ABC News and the cancellation of several daytime shows. Late-night television, once a reliable profit center, now faces stiff competition from YouTube clips, Netflix specials, and podcast-driven comedy. According to Nielsen data reported by industry trade Variety, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” averaged about 1.8 million total viewers per episode in the 2025-2026 season, down from 2.1 million the previous year, though it remains the second-most-watched late-night show on broadcast television behind NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Walden, who oversees ABC Entertainment, ABC News, and Disney’s television studios, has been a key architect of Disney’s streaming strategy. She was promoted to co-chair of Disney Entertainment in 2023, reporting directly to CEO Bob Iger. Her comments—or lack thereof—carry significant weight because she is the executive ultimately responsible for ABC’s programming decisions. When pressed further by the moderator about whether Kimmel’s show is “safe,” Walden said only, “We evaluate all of our programming regularly. That’s just good business.”
**Analise**
Walden’s evasion is notable because it breaks from Disney’s usual practice of publicly supporting its top talent. When Stephen Colbert’s future at CBS was in question in 2024, Paramount Global executives issued a statement affirming their commitment. Similarly, NBC has repeatedly backed Jimmy Fallon despite ratings dips. Walden’s refusal to offer even a vague vote of confidence suggests that internal discussions about Kimmel’s successor are already underway—or that the network is weighing a more radical restructuring of its late-night block.
Industry analysts point to several possible scenarios. One is that ABC could replace Kimmel with a rotating roster of guest hosts, similar to the model used by “The Daily Show” after Trevor Noah’s departure. Another is that the network might move to a shorter, cheaper format, perhaps a half-hour show, to reduce production costs. A third, more speculative possibility is that Disney could shift late-night entirely to its streaming platform Hulu, bypassing traditional broadcast altogether. “Late-night is a dying format on linear TV, but it still has value as a brand and a promotional engine,” said media analyst Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson in a recent note to clients. “Disney has to decide whether to invest in the next generation of hosts or let the franchise fade.”
Kimmel himself has not commented on Walden’s remarks. His representatives did not respond to requests for comment. The host is currently on a scheduled break; the show is airing reruns this week. Notably, Kimmel has been increasingly vocal about his desire to step back from the grueling nightly schedule. In a 2025 interview on “The Howard Stern Show,” he said, “I don’t want to be the guy who stays too long. I’ve seen what happens to people who do that.”
**Fontes**
This report is based on public remarks made by Dana Walden at the Code Conference on September 30, 2026, as recorded by multiple news outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Deadline. Additional context draws from Nielsen ratings data reported by Variety, Kimmel’s past interviews with the Los Angeles Times and The Howard Stern Show, and analyst commentary from MoffettNathanson. No internal Disney documents or anonymous sources were used. All information is attributed to publicly available, verifiable sources.