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

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. ABC says it will make its debate, scheduled for Sept. 10, available to other television networks and streamers to simulcast. CNN hasn't yet said whether it will do the same for its June 27 debate. It's also not certain how many other networks will carry them.