The least-watched network on your TV is also the only place I would ever watch a presidential debate. And I’ve seen a lot of them—I have watched practically every presidential debate, both primaries and general elections, from around 2012 to present day. My secret is a deep masochism and inability to look away from the disfunction of our country’s political process. But also, C-SPAN.
What is C-SPAN exactly?
C-SPAN is a nonprofit public service television network started in 1979 and essentially funded by cable and satellite services. A bunch of them banded together to offer unbiased, ad-free news coverage to almost every home in the United States for the betterment of public education and insight. It covers both politics and nonpolitical topics (historical programming, book coverage, author interviews), and has expanded to C-SPAN 2, C-SPAN 3, radio broadcasts, and live internet streams. It operates completely independently: The government has no bearing on what it covers, and it never solicits donations. It’s basically a wonder that is generally taken for granted. C-SPAN is a gift.
Isn’t C-SPAN boring?
C-SPAN is among the most boring programming you can find on television. But if you have the right reasons for watching, its lack of entertainment is its greatest strength (more on that later). Think of it this way: If you spend a lot of time online, you might use an ad-blocker to keep all the pop-ups and trackers from interrupting you. Similarly, C-SPAN is the ad-blocker of televised news, running without the punditry, sensationalism, and desperation of modern media. Comedian Larry Wilmore once said, “C-SPAN is the number one network among people who died watching TV and no one’s found them yet,” and that C-SPAN’s only rival network is “no-input HDMI-1.” He’s right, and you can find Wilmore’s joke—where else—on C-SPAN, showing that while the network is boring, it’s also self-aware of what it has to offer.
Is the Harris-Trump presidential debate worth watching?
As someone who will watch the Harris-Trump presidential debate, I don’t recommend others do the same. There are better things to do than engage with political theater under the guise of impacting a decision that we all undoubtedly made long ago. Cleaning your home would be a better option than watching what will transpire from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in Philadelphia on Sept. 10. Others carry this cross so you don’t have to, and the highlights will flood our social media feeds the days that follow. But if you choose to watch, you should do it on C-SPAN.
Why you should watch C-SPAN over other networks
No one is watching C-SPAN but me and maybe three other people, but underneath its boredom is a simple truth for those who want their information minus the spectacle and punditry of cable news: C-SPAN is televised news in its purest, most direct form. It’s “boring” the same way a Google search might be “boring” without sponsored posts and other advertisements vying for your attention. Debates can be rage-provoking, frustration-inducing spectacles, and the last thing that many of us need are the addition of network pundits, sports-like chyrons, flashy animations, and commercials. Instead, it’s worth considering to watch through the lens of dry, even-toned, non-reactionary information.
How to watch the Harris-Trump presidential debate on C-SPAN
The 2024 Harris-Trump presidential debate will air on ABC News and be simulcast on C-SPAN2 at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 10. You can find your local C-SPAN2 channel on your cable provider, or you can stream the debate live on C-SPAN’s website. You can also search an archive of past debates (you won’t, though) and find plenty of other content that can cure insomnia.
The debate will be moderated by David Muir, the anchor for World News Tonight, as well as ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis. There will be no live audience present for the event, and microphones will be muted when the opposing candidate is speaking. C-SPAN’s coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, likely with a panned-out camera staring into an auditorium of people doing literally nothing.
