CNN Preps for 2024’s First Presidential Debate

CNN is gearing up for the first presidential debate of 2024, set to feature President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Scheduled for Thursday, June 27 at 9 p.m. (ET), the debate will be moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, both prominent CNN hosts. Tapper leads “The Lead,” while Bash anchors “Inside Politics” and co-anchors “State of the Union.”

This event marks a departure from tradition, as it will not be organized by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Both candidates declined CPD-hosted debates, a format that has been standard since the commission’s establishment in 1987. Instead, CNN will host the debate at its studios in Atlanta, Georgia, a state expected to be fiercely contested in the upcoming election.

The second debate is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10 on ABC News, with moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis from “ABC World News Tonight.” Unlike past debates, this year’s events will allow advertising. CNN will run ads but prohibit political campaigns or PACs from advertising during the debate.

Marketers are eyeing ad opportunities during the debates. In 2016, CBS reportedly sold :30 ads at $200,000 to $225,000 after a presidential debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton. CNN will offer two ad tiers, with the top tier requiring a minimum commitment of $1.5 million and including various branding opportunities.

The debates will be available for simulcast on various networks and for streaming on CNN.com, including on rival networks like Fox News and MSNBC. However, CNN will prohibit rival networks from airing political commentary during the debate.

This debate marks the earliest in presidential debate history, preceding even the political conventions that officially nominate the national ticket. This timing is significant, as it will occur weeks before the sentencing of Donald Trump, who was recently found guilty in a hush money trial.

While the audience for presidential debates tends to skew older, they still draw significant viewership. The most watched debate to date was the first 2016 debate between Trump and Clinton, which averaged 84 million viewers across 13 networks. Despite the anticipation for this year’s debates, it is unlikely they will surpass these records.

As of now, the debate is limited to Biden and Trump. For any third-party candidates to participate, they must appear on enough state ballots totaling 270 Electoral College votes and achieve at least 15% support in four qualifying national polls. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has filed a complaint alleging that Biden and Trump have conspired to keep him off the debate stage, but he is currently polling below the required threshold.

A debate between the vice presidential candidates, including incumbent Kamala Harris and Trump’s running mate, is also expected. CBS News has offered to televise this debate, with potential dates in July and August. Harris has already accepted the invitation.