Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Chains With ABC, Teams Up With Stephen Colbert To Launch Explosive “Truth News” Channel

In one of the most seismic moments in late-night television history, Jimmy Kimmel has fired a shot across ABC’s bow, declaring he is ready to sever ties with the network after nearly 20 years. His next move? Teaming up with fellow host — and ratings rival turned ally — Stephen Colbert to launch what they are calling an “uncensored, unfiltered, unshakable” news platform: Truth News.

The announcement, delivered in a joint statement late Wednesday, comes just days after Kimmel found himself at the center of a firestorm over controversial remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Affiliates revolted, the FCC sniffed around, and suddenly one of America’s most established late-night figures was dangling on the edge of cancellation.

Now, instead of backing down, Kimmel and Colbert are doubling down — and in doing so, they may have just rewritten the playbook for modern media.

“Enough Is Enough”: Kimmel’s Breaking Point

Kimmel, who has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003, made it clear that his relationship with ABC executives had been strained for years. The comedian’s cutting political commentary frequently collided with the cautious instincts of corporate leadership. But after the Kirk controversy, Kimmel insists, the dam finally broke.

“Enough is enough,” Kimmel said. “If speaking the truth is treated as a punishable act, then it’s time to build a place where no one can silence it. We’re ready to go — with or without ABC.”

Network insiders whisper that ABC is in crisis mode, unable to calm furious affiliates who flat-out refused to broadcast Kimmel’s show in conservative states. Negotiations are reportedly frozen, and one source close to the matter described the atmosphere inside ABC as “an outright standoff.”

Colbert’s Stunning Defection

Perhaps the most shocking twist in the saga is the involvement of Colbert, host of CBS’s Late Show and one of Kimmel’s fiercest competitors. Instead of circling like a vulture, Colbert swooped in as an ally, calling the current moment “bigger than comedy or ratings.”

“We’ve been friends for a long time,” Colbert said, “but this is about creating a platform where facts aren’t twisted by fear, money, or politics. We’re done pretending corporate networks can serve the public and their shareholders at the same time.”

While Colbert technically remains under contract with CBS, his participation suggests something deeper is in motion — a brewing media rebellion that could fracture late-night as we know it.

The Charlie Kirk Flashpoint

At the core of this media earthquake is the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, a polarizing conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA.

Kimmel’s explosive comments in the aftermath — accusing Kirk’s allies of “bending over backward” to distance themselves from the shooter’s motives — ignited fury. Affiliates balked. Politicians piled on. Even the FCC hinted at “regulatory review.”

For ABC, the fallout was too hot to handle. But for Kimmel, it became the trigger point to finally cut the cord.

What “Truth News” Promises

So what exactly is Truth News? According to Kimmel and Colbert, it will not be just another late-night clone. Instead, they describe it as a hybrid beast — part live reporting, part investigative journalism, part satire, and all unapologetically free from corporate oversight.

“There will be no memos. No approvals. No filters,” Colbert declared. “If someone lies, we’ll call it a lie. If someone manipulates, we’ll expose it. If something happens, you’ll hear it from us — in real time.”

Though neither has confirmed financial backers, early chatter suggests the duo is already in talks with streaming platforms hungry for disruption. Insiders predict a digital-first launch, with the potential to hit audiences within weeks.

Media at a Crossroads

The launch of Truth News comes at a moment when trust in mainstream media has cratered and audiences are retreating into partisan echo chambers. While Fox News and Newsmax dominate the right, progressives have often relied on satire-driven outlets like The Daily Show.

Kimmel and Colbert are attempting to cut a new path: a platform pitched not just as progressive, but as anti-corporate. Yet experts warn the danger is slipping into the same ideological traps they claim to fight.

“It’s a bold idea,” said Dr. Renee Kaplan, professor of media studies at NYU. “But credibility will be the true test. If they can consistently report facts while weaving in satire, they could be revolutionary. If not, they risk becoming another partisan echo chamber in a fractured media landscape.”

The High Stakes of Walking Away

Leaving a broadcast giant like ABC is not a decision any late-night host takes lightly. Kimmel’s show has been a fixture since 2003, and with it came one of the most stable paychecks in television. Industry estimates put his salary in the $15–16 million per year range.

But to Kimmel and Colbert, money is no longer the motivator.

“This isn’t a tantrum,” Kimmel told reporters. “This is a decision that’s been building for years. And now we’re ready.”

The Future of Late-Night

The timing couldn’t be more devastating for traditional networks. Colbert’s Late Show is already on borrowed time, slated to end in 2026. James Corden is gone. Fallon is floundering. Audiences are migrating to streaming and bite-sized digital content, leaving late-night TV looking more like a dinosaur every year.

By jumping ship now, Kimmel and Colbert aren’t just launching a channel. They’re firing the first real shot in what could be the death of late-night television as we know it.

What Comes Next?

Will ABC try to enforce Kimmel’s contract? Will CBS rein in Colbert’s bold defection? Or will both networks be left scrambling as their former stars outflank them in the digital battlefield?

For now, one thing is certain: Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert are done playing the corporate game. Their war against censorship, media manipulation, and political gatekeeping has begun.

And if they’re right, Truth News could either be the boldest reinvention of news since cable — or the final nail in the coffin for the network era.