Harris v Trump: Which Aussie TV network will win this week’s debate coverage?
11am on Wednesday morning is set to become a ratings battlefield as all five free-to-air stations screen the first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. But how did ABC, SBS, Ten, Seven, and Nine all snare the broadcast rights?
In the US, the debate will be aired on US-station ABC, while Fox News and CBS News are both simulcasting the event.
In Australia, Network 10 will carry the broadcast from its US affiliate, CBS News, while Nine, ABC News, Seven, and SBS will carry the ABC broadcast.
Foxtel viewers will also be able to tune in via Fox News – or indeed through CBS News.
So, for Australian viewers, it basically depends which watermark you’d prefer in regards to the coverage, although Ten is also promising Hugh Riminton, Ashleigh Raper, and Narelda Jacobs, and ABC is offering analysis with Jeremy Fernandez, Julia Baird and guests.
The debate is set to run for 90 minutes, including two commercial breaks, according to Nine’s own explainer – although it will be interesting to see if the commercial networks stick to these conventions, given the boosted viewership such a debate delivers. Two commercial breaks in 90 minutes? Unheard of!
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