In what is being described as a historic low for the network, ABC’s moderator ratings have hit rock bottom following the backlash from the recent presidential debate. Viewers were not shy about their displeasure, taking to social media in droves to criticize ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis for what many felt was a biased, uneven performance. Now, as the dust settles, ABC finds itself in an awkward position—forced to admit they may have made a serious miscalculation.
“Look, we’ve been doing debates for a long time,” said an ABC spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the network. “But this time, we might have gotten it wrong. We made a mistake.” It’s rare to see a major network concede defeat in such a public way, but given the ratings nosedive, they had little choice. After all, viewers had tuned in expecting a fair and balanced discussion—what they got was something closer to a media-driven sideshow.
The debate in question featured a showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. On paper, it was supposed to be one of the most pivotal political events of the year, with both candidates eager to sway undecided voters. However, the real drama of the evening unfolded not between the candidates but between the moderators and the audience.
Throughout the 90-minute spectacle, Muir and Davis repeatedly fact-checked Trump in real time, interrupting him on several occasions to clarify statements they deemed inaccurate. Harris, on the other hand, was given considerably more leeway, her responses often going unchallenged. Viewers immediately took notice, and by the time the closing statements were delivered, social media was ablaze with accusations of bias.
“Are Muir and Davis running for office too?” tweeted one frustrated viewer. “If so, they should put their names on the ballot because they sure seem to think they’re part of the debate.”
The fallout was swift. Twitter/X became a battleground, with hashtags like #RiggedDebate and #FireTheModerators trending for hours after the event. Even ABC’s own comment sections were flooded with angry posts, many accusing the network of turning what should have been a neutral platform into a partisan attack on Trump.
Perhaps the most immediate and painful consequence of the debate was ABC’s plummeting ratings. According to industry insiders, the network saw a significant drop in viewership following the debate, with many calling it the “worst performance” in recent history.
“For a network like ABC, which prides itself on being a trusted source of information, this is a disaster,” said one media analyst. “Their credibility has taken a massive hit, and it’s going to take a long time to recover.”
The network’s usual post-debate analysis programs also suffered from the fallout. Viewers who would typically stick around for post-debate coverage simply tuned out. Even World News Tonight—ABC’s flagship program—saw its ratings dip in the days following the debate. “The trust factor is gone,” said one former ABC viewer. “If I can’t trust them to moderate a debate fairly, why should I trust their news coverage?”
In response to the backlash, ABC issued a statement acknowledging their misstep but stopping short of issuing a full apology. “We strive for fairness and integrity in all our programming,” the statement read. “However, we understand that many viewers felt that the debate was not moderated in a way that met their expectations. We take this feedback seriously and will work to improve future events.”
The network’s attempt at damage control has done little to quell the anger, with critics slamming the statement as “too little, too late.”
“‘We take this feedback seriously’? That’s it?” one Twitter/X user fumed. “ABC turned the debate into a Kamala Harris fan club meeting, and all they can say is ‘oops’?”
Behind the scenes, tensions at ABC are reportedly running high, with Muir and Davis facing scrutiny not just from viewers but from within the network itself. According to sources close to the situation, the moderators were blindsided by the backlash, believing they had done their best to hold the candidates accountable.
“David and Linsey are professionals,” said one ABC insider. “They’ve moderated debates before. They know how high the stakes are. But I don’t think anyone was prepared for this level of backlash.”
Muir, in particular, has come under fire from conservative circles, many of whom are calling for his resignation. While ABC has so far stood by its moderators, insiders suggest that the network may be considering a shakeup before the next major event.
“There’s a lot of pressure right now,” the insider continued. “The network can’t afford another ratings disaster, and they know it. If that means making some tough decisions about who sits in the moderator’s chair next time, so be it.”
As ABC grapples with its current ratings crisis, the question remains: can the network recover? It’s not just about one debate; it’s about the trust that viewers once had in ABC as a fair, impartial news source. Losing that trust could have long-term consequences, not just for future political events but for the network’s overall standing in a crowded media landscape.
Already, rumors are swirling that other networks, including Fox and CNN, are preparing to swoop in and take advantage of ABC’s weakened position. Fox, in particular, is reportedly eyeing the opportunity to present itself as the go-to network for “unbiased” debate coverage in future elections.
“ABC has left a vacuum,” said one media executive. “They had a chance to be the gold standard for political coverage, and they blew it. Now someone else is going to step in and take that spot.”
In the wake of this controversy, the big question is whether ABC will actually learn from its mistakes or continue down the same path. Viewers have made it clear that they expect more from a network that prides itself on journalistic integrity. And while the network’s half-hearted acknowledgment of its misstep is a start, it may not be enough to win back the trust they’ve lost.
“ABC can apologize all they want, but actions speak louder than words,” said one former viewer. “If they really care about fairness, they need to prove it in their next debate. Otherwise, they’re just another biased network pretending to be neutral.”
With more debates and political coverage on the horizon, ABC will need to tread carefully if it hopes to repair its damaged reputation. For now, all eyes are on the network as it navigates the fallout from one of the most controversial debates in recent memory.
In the end, ABC might have been right about one thing: they did make a mistake. But the real question is, can they fix it?
