ABN

We, for one, welcome our new Insecticon overlords!

ABN (Autobot Broadcast News) is an amateur news network for the Autobots, reporting on the war and civilian events. It tends not to do so well in the ratings department. Though, hey, they have won at least one award (albeit through deception).

In negative polarity universes, the network acts as a vehicle of propaganda, and viewership is mandated by the state.

Fiction

[edit]

Generation 1 continuity family

[edit]

Wings Universe

[edit]
The government calls it the Elite Guard, but a more alarmist name would be: the Kill-Bot Factory!

As Bishop was trying to give the evening news, the studio camera was acting up and cutting him off with static. Eventually, he lost his patience with it and colorfully yelled at the camerabot, Spearhead, to just hit the camera, resolving the issue. He then got back to delivering the news. Around Cybertron #9

Bishop once interviewed Repugnus for the show at the beginning of the war, regarding the rampant infestations of giant ferocious insects of Cybertron's many city-states, believing the bot to be an entomologist. The Monsterbot blamed exotic mechanimal pet traders and owners abandoning them when they got too big and violent, a characteristic that Repugnus admired in them and stated that he trained them as guard dogs to dismember intruders. Bishop soon realized that Repugnus wasn't an entomologist, to which he confirmed that he didn't even know what the word meant, much to Bishop's dismay. Around Cybertron #10

Cassiopeia was outside the Elite Guard's headqaurters, reporting on their 20th succesful mission with no casualties. Just as she was doing this, her broadcast was interrupted by rival reporter, Slamdance, who thought it didn't matter as no one watched ABN, anyway. He then revealed that he was reporting on the disappearance of the Combaticons, though he didn't expect her to know it had even happened. Cassiopeia quickly pretended as if she did and reminded viewers to tune back in later to hear about it. Around Cybertron #11

One evening, Bishop was interviewing the Guardian robot expert known as "Doc", who was talking about how he had invented a new line of drones to replace the aging giants. When pressed on the perceived difficulty in controlling drones, Doc responded that his Centurion drones were much more obedient, and decided to demonstrate this with his lab assistant, Centrifuge. However, once Centrifuge activated the drones, they did not listen to his commands and proceeded to remove him from the area. Doc assured Bishop that they would work out the kinks before putting them on the market, to which Bishop was left speechless. Around Cybertron #12

Reporting on the breaking news of a recent Decepticon attack on Iacon, Bishop passed the air over to Cassiopeia, who was rushing live to the scene of the attack. While she was initially excited that ABN would be the first to get the scoop, upon arriving at the aftermath of the attack, she suddenly realized that being a war reporter was not for the faint of spark. When she went silent, Bishop asked if she was still there, and she reluctantly stated that she wanted to go home. Around Cybertron #13 Bishop reacted dramatically to the sight of what the Combaticons had done, damning them to the Pit before immediately regaining his composure as he thought the broadcast was finished. He boasted that this would finally get them some ratings before asking Spearhead if he was going to a party that he had told him about, to which Spearhead had to remind Bishop that they were still on air, much to Bishop's horror. Around Cybertron #14

IT'S IN THE BOOK OF LOGOS, BOTS!

After the PR disaster of their coverage of the attack on the Elite Guard HQ, ABN brought on Rook as a new anchor. While reading the teleprompter, Rook pointed out that the usage of a singular "viewer" must have been a typo. After being told that it wasn't, he was less than thrilled. After this, he moved on to the interview for the program with the Custodiobot of the Iacon Archives, questioning him on what made Optimus a Prime. The Custudiobot responded that it was an Autobot leader who wielded the power of the Matrix. When asked what the Matrix was, he simply restated that it was something a Prime used, causing Rook's patience to wear thin and ask if this is why they only had one viewer. Around Cybertron #15

In a desperate bid to regain an audience, Rook had Bishop painted to look like Alpha Trion for a fake interview on the topic of who was left to protect Iacon, with the whereabouts of the Elite Guard unknown and Optimus Prime's team on their first mission. Bishop was not convinced the plan would work, but Rook reassured him that he looked just like the old Autobot sage. Around Cybertron #16 Surprisingly, it worked! While Cassiopeia was reporting on a terrible battle, Rook cut her off to announce that the station had won the Running Cogs Award for Captivating Journalism for their interview with "Alpha Trion". A trophy which Rook was hogging all for himself, to the displeasure of Bishop. Around Cybertron #17

With the show's renewed success, a new anchor was brought on the show in the form of up-and-coming reporter, Andromeda. During her first show, she worked alongside Rook in covering stories on lobbing champions and the Jumpstarters. When asked by Rook how she felt it went, she said she was a little nervous but enjoyed it, expressing regret at accidentally hitting Bishop during the lobbing segment and hoping that he was okay. As they got the signal to wrap-up the show, the whole cast came on set to sign off and wish the citizens of Iacon a good night. Around Cybertron #18

Known members: {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

|

3

|

}}

Shattered Glass

[edit]

Fun Publications Shattered Glass continuity

[edit]
And the Decepticons that couldn't stop laughing were put to death.

A mysterious energy surge was detected near the former Durax Hospital for Protoforms. Rook was quick to report that it was likely part of a twisted Decepticon plot to rebuild the hospital and deprive protoforms of the chance for whatever didn't kill them to make them stronger. Of course, the Autobot Civil Security Corps hadn't actually investigated yet, but there was still no doubt whatsoever that the Decepticons were responsible. Film at 2300. Around Cybertron #3

In an exclusive bit of breaking news, Rook turned the broadcast over to his new reporter Punch. Apparently the traitorous Autobots Skyfall and Zetar had been seen consorting with an unknown Decepticon near Iacon. Fortunately, Punch was able to get the scoop from an eyewitness and expose the sordid affair. Around Cybertron #4

Rook reported on the latest in entertainment news: the "infamous" comedic duo Dreadwind and Darkwind had been captured by Autobot forces and sentenced to death on account of their "painfully uplifting" comedy tours. Rook was there to report on every moment of their last words and subsequent execution in the smelting pool. Now that was a comedy act every upstanding Autobot could appreciate. Around Cybertron #5

Go ahead, try and find a replacem-

Rook ended up delivering quite probably the most amazing news of his career—Megatron was dead! As he awaited the footage of Optimus Prime's reaction, he didn't envy the bot who would tell Prime the news that his vendetta would be denied. Until he found out that the bot in question was himself, as Prime had been watching the Around Cybertron broadcast. Oops. Around Cybertron #6

The ABN boss appointed Andromeda as the anchor while Rook was on "enforced vacation". However, in the middle of an interview with Mirage, breaking news of a coup attempt against Optimus Prime caused her to run off, leaving Rook free to reclaim his desk. It enjoyed his loving pats and sweet nothings until he was startled by Mirage in the interview chair. Around Cybertron #7

When Punch went undercover to report about the latest episode of "Decepticon troublemaking", Esmeral and Monstructor made him an offer to join their network, which he accepted, much to Rook's misery. Around Cybertron #8

Known members: {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

|

3

|

}}

Recordicons
[edit]
The Batbot's a threat to the new world order, Ratbat.

Reporter Slamdance interviewed the Decepticon Ravage (who was waving) about an encounter they had with the celebrity philanthropist, Ratbat. Ravage recalled how they had met Ratbat in a dark alleyway and requested an autograph. However, they were assaulted by two unknown criminals. When Ravage came to, Ratbat had disappeared, and the criminals had been strung up by a mysterious vigilante. Slamdance took the opportunity to bash Ratbat for their cowardice, while Ravage plugged their Yatter account in the background. Recordicons #2

Slamdance later interviewed Rabat himself via video call regarding the "vile vigilante" Batbot. Ratbat agreed that Batbot was dangerous, but suggested that some bots considered the masked hero to be a positive thing for the city, which Slamdance dismissed with a snide remark about Ratbat's wealth. Slamdance then pulled up a file photo of Batbot right next to Ratbat's video feed, asking the millionaire if he noticed anything about the hero's appearance. Ratbat had been caught off guard and became nervous, asking if they could take the photo down. Slamdance, seemingly unaware of the two bots' visual similarities, called Batbot ugly and agreed with Ratbat's request to take down the image as it grossed him out. Recordicons #9

Known members: {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

|

3

|

}}

IDW Shattered Glass comic

[edit]
Hey, this isn't So Long Inumimi Rock-Star!

Before the Great War broke out, Blaster was ABN's lead anchor, only to be caught on camera insulting the viewers' intelligence after a segment on the ongoing tensions in the Senate. He was promptly fired and replaced with Soundwave. When Soundwave attended one of Blaster's musical performances, he offered to try and get his predecessor an interview with ABN, only to be rebuked. Shattered Glass II #2

Laserbeak and Flashbox tried to get a quick interview with Senator Shockwave about the rumours of a military schism, but the senator cut them off and told them he didn't have time, confusing Laserbeak for "Flashback". As Flashbox tried to correct the senator, the trio ran into Ultra Magnus and his Wreckers, who scared off the reporters. Shattered Glass II #1

Known members: {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

|

3

|

}}

Notes

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=ABN&oldid=1855892"