DINH DOONG

In an unprecedented and downright bizarre twist in the ongoing media wars, NBC Comcast has taken ABC off the air, declaring that the rival network “owes the American people an apology.” While corporate feuds are nothing new in the media landscape, this latest clash has raised eyebrows for its boldness—and for what seems to be the underlying cause: ABC’s controversial handling of the recent presidential debate, particularly the now-infamous fact-checking of former President Donald Trump by moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.

Yes, you read that right—two networks are now publicly at odds over a political debate. And it’s not about who had the best stage lighting or snappiest soundbites. No, this is about truth, lies, and whether or not interrupting a former president to clarify that no, he did not lose the 2020 election “by a whisker,” is grounds for a media industry mutiny.

It all started with ABC’s hosting of the latest presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. While debates are traditionally high-octane, this one reached new heights, largely due to the moderators’ decision to fact-check Trump in real-time. During the 90-minute exchange, Muir and Davis stepped in multiple times to correct the former president’s claims on everything from abortion to immigrants supposedly eating pets in Ohio (yes, that was a real claim).

For Trump supporters, it felt like a pile-on, with some even dubbing the event “The Roast of Donald Trump, Sponsored by ABC.” The real kicker came when Muir interrupted Trump to debunk his assertion that Democrats support “executing babies after birth,” and again when he refuted Trump’s bizarre story about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, dining on the neighborhood pets.

“ABC’s moderators turned the debate into a truth-policing circus,” claimed an irate Trump supporter on social media. “We wanted a fair fight, not a fact-check fest!”

Enter NBC Comcast, swooping in to defend the honor of the former president and, apparently, the entire nation. Just days after the debate, NBC Comcast did the unthinkable: they blacked out ABC from their cable and streaming services, leaving millions of viewers to wonder why their regularly scheduled dose of The Bachelorette or Good Morning America had been replaced with nothing but static.

In a scathing press release, NBC Comcast explained their decision. “ABC has crossed a line,” the statement read. “Their so-called debate was a disaster. They owe the American people an apology for turning what should have been a fair and balanced exchange into a farce of journalistic arrogance. Until such an apology is issued, we refuse to air any of their programming.”

The statement continued, accusing ABC of overstepping its role as a broadcaster. “Fact-checking in the middle of a debate? Unacceptable. Viewers have the right to hear both candidates speak uninterrupted, regardless of whether what they’re saying is based in reality.”

The blackout sent shockwaves across the media landscape. Suddenly, ABC’s programming—everything from Shark Tank to The View—was off the air for millions of homes across the country. And viewers? Well, they were not happy.

“Where’s Dancing with the Stars?!” tweeted one irate fan. “I didn’t tune in for a media showdown. I just want to see people in sequins doing the cha-cha!”

Others, however, seemed more intrigued by NBC’s bold stance. “Finally, someone’s standing up for America,” wrote a supporter of the blackout. “ABC has gone too far with their fact-checking crusade. If Trump wants to say dogs are being eaten in Ohio, that’s his right!”

Even politicians chimed in, with some calling for a full investigation into ABC’s debate coverage. “This is about more than a media blackout,” said one senator on X (formerly Twitter). “This is about the First Amendment. What ABC did during that debate was censorship, plain and simple.”

So, what exactly does NBC Comcast want? According to their statement, they’re not asking for much—just a public apology from ABC. But here’s where things get tricky: NBC doesn’t just want an apology for how the debate was handled; they want ABC to apologize to the entire American people.

“ABC owes America an apology for treating us like we can’t handle the truth,” said an NBC executive, dripping with irony. “They think they’re the gatekeepers of information, but the American public deserves better. We deserve candidates to speak without being interrupted by ‘gotcha’ fact-checks.”

NBC’s request for a national apology has become the stuff of satire in itself. Some are calling it the most ambitious demand since James Cameron asked audiences to sit through three hours of Avatar. “Who apologizes to an entire country?” joked one commentator. “Are they going to send out handwritten letters to every household?”

For now, ABC has remained notably silent on the matter. Insiders say the network is weighing its options, unsure whether to offer a vague, PR-crafted apology or to double down and refuse to give in to NBC’s demands.

One thing is for sure: apologizing could set a dangerous precedent. If ABC apologizes for fact-checking Trump, what’s next? Will networks have to apologize every time they point out that a candidate’s claim isn’t quite grounded in reality? Will fact-checking itself become an endangered practice in an era where “alternative facts” are embraced as valid?

It seems ABC is stuck between a rock and a hard place—apologize and lose credibility with those who believe in journalistic integrity, or stand firm and risk further blackouts from NBC Comcast.

As NBC Comcast and ABC continue their feud, the future of televised debates hangs in the balance. Are we headed for a world where fact-checking is considered overreach? Where candidates can say whatever they want, no matter how absurd, without fear of correction?

One thing’s clear: this is more than just a spat between two media giants. It’s a reflection of the larger battle over truth, accountability, and what role the media should play in political discourse. Should networks act as referees, calling out falsehoods when they see them? Or should they simply let the candidates duke it out without intervention, letting the viewers decide what’s real and what’s not?

In the meantime, millions of Americans are left without ABC’s programming, and NBC Comcast has drawn a line in the sand. Whether ABC will issue the apology NBC demands remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the media landscape is only going to get stranger from here.

And as for the viewers just trying to catch the next episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Well, they’re probably the ones who deserve an apology.