ABC Network faces declining viewership rates for its premier news program following a debated moderation performance.
After a controversial debate moderation, ABC's "World News Tonight" with anchor David Muir reports decreased viewership, Fox News reported.
ABC's "World News Tonight," anchored by David Muir, moderated a high-profile debate on September 10, 2024, featuring Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. This event took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, marking a significant moment in the lead-up to the election. During the debate, the moderation team, which also included Linsey Davis, fact-checked Trump multiple times but faced criticism for not correcting Harris on any of her statements.
This perceived imbalance in fact-checking drew significant attention and negative feedback from conservative circles, including direct criticism from Trump himself. He stated, "Every one of them should have been questioned by David Muir, who I've lost a lot of respect for. Everyone's lost respect for him," stressing the one-sided nature of the debate.
Following the debate, viewership for "World News Tonight" dropped sharply. Previously averaging 7.6 million views in 2024, the program saw a decrease to 6.7 million views, notably a 12% decline. The reduction compared more significantly to the slight declines seen in competing evening news programs like the "CBS Evening News" and "NBC Nightly News."
A broadcasting challenge further affected the timing of this viewership drop. ABC faced a two-week blackout on DirectTV, one of the major US satellite service providers, from September 1-14, covering the period leading up to and immediately following the debate. This conflict undoubtedly impacted the overall accessibility of the debate and subsequent coverage.
Linsey Davis explained that past criticisms of moderators being too passive influenced her decisions and shed light on her moderating approach. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, she mentioned, "People were concerned that statements were allowed to just hang and not [be] disputed by the candidate Biden, at the time, or the moderators."
Martha Raddatz stating, "Our fact-checkers found that to be false," regarding Harris's claim about U.S. troops. "There are currently 900 U.S. military personnel in Syria, 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq. All have been under regular threat from drones and missiles for months. We also have action in the Red Sea," and "Also, every single day, the Navy SEALs, Delta Forces special operators can be part of any sort of deadly raid."
Post-debate analysis by ABC News's Martha Raddatz corrected Harris’s false claim about the absence of US troops in active combat zones, perhaps in response to earlier criticisms of the debate's fairness.
Additionally, the debate's moderation has sparked reactions from various groups, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which criticized a "100% inaccurate" abortion claim that went uncorrected during the event. Such instances have fueled ongoing debates about moderator impartiality and the role of live fact-checking in shaping public perceptions.
The decline in viewership post-debate could impact "World News Tonight" and the moderation of future debates for the long term. Networks now face the challenge of maintaining impartiality while engaging a polarized audience, ensuring that they fact-check and correct all statements evenly across the board.
ABC Network's handling of this situation moving forward will be crucial as it navigates the challenges of maintaining journalistic integrity while addressing viewer feedback and expectations for equitable debate coverage.
In conclusion, the fallout from the presidential debate moderation by ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis not only affected immediate viewership ratings but has stirred a broader discussion about media bias, fact-checking, and the equitable treatment of political candidates in the high stakes of electoral politics. This incident underscores the delicate balance media outlets must maintain between informative reporting and audience engagement in an increasingly divided political climate.
