Removing presidential debates from the control of the commission will likely result in a decrease in viewership.

The upcoming presidential debates between Joe Biden and Donald Trump have taken an unexpected turn, bypassing the traditional Commission on Presidential Debates and landing in the laps of CNN and ABC News. While this move may seem like a win for the two networks, it’s also likely to result in some of the lowest viewership numbers in debate history.

CNN and ABC News have both announced plans to make their respective debates available for simulcast on other networks, in an effort to reach as many viewers as possible. The first debate, scheduled for June 27 and moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, will be broadcast on CNN, while the second debate on September 10, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, will air on ABC.

Despite the potential for low viewership, the debates are seen as an important opportunity for the public to hear from the candidates directly. With the possibility of rules that would prevent candidates from interrupting each other, there is hope that the debates will provide a more civil and informative discussion.

While the decision to bypass the Commission on Presidential Debates may have raised some eyebrows, it also highlights the changing landscape of media and politics. As the debates approach, all eyes will be on CNN and ABC News to see how they handle this unique opportunity to engage with the American public.