Taking presidential debates out of commission’s hands virtually guarantees fewer viewers

By DAVID BAUDER
AP Media Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The two planned presidential debates between Joe Biden and Donald Trump that were swiftly organized this week are good news for CNN and ABC News. But the arrangement virtually guarantees they will be among the least-watched general election debates ever. The two campaigns organized them without the Commission on Presidential Debates, which seeks the biggest audience possible on all networks. CNN on Friday joined ABC in saying it will make the debates available for other networks with news divisions to broadcast. The CNN debate is scheduled for June 27, while ABC is set for Sept. 10.