Election Day Coverage-Who Will You Be Watching?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

03 Nov 2008 11:20 AM

T-minus 24 hours. Television news organizations have been preparing for Election Day 2008 with about as much anticipation as the politicians themselves.

The event is like the Super Bowl, the Olympics and the Academy Awards all wrapped up in one broadcast. Several networks just announced plans to unveil major new tech toys to get poll results to the public as soon as possible. Tomorrow you will be introduced to a "magic wall," a "launchpad" and watch as NBC and ABC turn two New York City landmarks - Rockefeller Center and Times Square - into virtual TV studios.

Here's what else you can expect from the major networks:

NBC

NBC News is planning to imprint a map of the United States on the Rockefeller Center skating rink. The states on the map will be illuminated blue or red as they are called for Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain. The network is also erecting giant banners for each candidate that will climb 16 stories up 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The banners will reportedly mark the progress of each candidate as all 270 electoral votes come in.

Analysts Tom Brokaw and Andrea Mitchell will join Brian Williams at NBC's anchor desk. Noticeably missing will be Tim Russert, whose presence brought in the biggest numbers during Election Night 2000 and 2004.

ABC

ABC News is adding three giant video screens to the light show that is Times Square. Anchor Bill Weir will be stationed under the screens to get reactions from people watching the vote. ABC's main hub will be the "Good Morning America" studios in New York where Charlie Gibson will team with Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos.

CBS

CBS will be using their website as an aid for Katie Couric and crew (Jeff Greenfield and Bob Schieffer) to get feedback from the American public as the votes come in.

FOX

Fox is using Shepard Smith and Brit Hume to anchor its coverage. Fox is also using Election Night to debut its "launchpad," a technology, producers say, uses a control pad to allow reporters to quickly customize visual elements like results, maps and live shots.

CNN

The cable news network is going hi-tech with its "magic wall" that allows anchor John King to bend and shape information (it was parodied recently on "Saturday Night Live"). The wall has been upgraded to have a virtual-reality Capitol to track control of Congress, and a holograph projection device that can make it appear as though someone being interviewed in a separate city is in CNN's New York studio.

CNN is planning to use the anchor team of Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and Campbell Brown along with 14 other political analysts and a slew of reporters to cover the night's events.

Which network will you be tuning into on Election Night?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Courtney Mroch (9169) 03 Nov 2008 03:40 PM

It will be channel surfing mayhem in our house I imagine. Flipping between NBC, CNN, and Fox most likely. Along with maybe MSNBC if they'll be doing anything.

deedee1231 (4030) 03 Nov 2008 03:44 PM

I like to listen to the local coverage on the radio, while I have one of the major networks on but muted. That way find out about our local elections but if there is a big development I wont miss out on it on the major network. Most likely we will keep an eye on FOX.

Pam Connell (2658) 04 Nov 2008 02:04 PM

My kids are visual learners, so it sounds like NBC with the huge banners and illuminated ice rink is the way for us to go. I'll probably flip to CNN sometimes too. Thanks for the info.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 05 Nov 2008 05:14 AM

My dd liked the skating rink effect. I liked that NBC gave a quick behind-the-scenes look into its green screen graphic productions, though I thought Brian Williams warnings to Ann Curry to duck got a bit tedious after a while.

Thanks for the comments ladies... and deedee you and my dad share the same practice of listening to the radio for results!