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Election night coverage like you’ve never seen before
As the sun sets on Tuesday, November 5th, a media blitz begins across various networks, kicking off coverage of the 2024 presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. NBC News is taking the lead with an earlier than ever start, going live at 5 p.m. and running a continuous stream of election results coverage for 24 hours. Leading the charge are renowned anchors like Tom Llamas, Hallie Jackson, Savannah Guthrie, Lester Holt, Craig Melvin, and Kate Snow.
Unprecedented commitment to coverage
The network is setting its sights on ground-breaking commitment, with Savannah Guthrie reappearing at 6 a.m. for an extended broadcast of “Today,” following her involvement in the prime-time coverage the previous night. Janelle Rodriguez, executive vice president of programming, remarks on the dedication: “We are going up earlier than we ever have on the network, and we are staying up continuously longer than we ever have on the network.”
Anticipating a prolonged election result period
Drawing from the experience of the 2020 election, all major TV-news outlets are bracing themselves for the process to stretch over several days. The increasing reliance on mail-in voting, coupled with varying state-by-state tabulation rules, means that quick and definitive results are less likely. This situation demands that cable news channels maintain 24-hour coverage, while their broadcast counterparts must be vigilant and ready to switch back into special-report mode at any given moment. As Marc Burstein, senior executive producer, notes, “We are prepared to go from ‘GMA’ to ‘GMA’ if need be.”
Embracing the election day marathon
The stakes are exceptionally high. Presidential elections draw the biggest audiences, which translates to significant advertising revenue, even as sponsors grow cautious of content linked to divisive issues. Jessica Loker, a key figure in election coverage teams, emphasizes: “We always know that our job doesn’t end on Election Day, and that’s only when we start gearing up for the transition, for certification, for the Inauguration…”
New players on the field
Several media outlets are seizing this opportunity to establish themselves as heavy hitters in election coverage. CNBC will focus on market implications, with Carl Quintanilla broadcasting from the New York Stock Exchange and Contessa Brewer taking over at midnight to lead into the network’s signature morning show, “Squawk Box.”
NewsNation will be covering its first presidential election, showcasing analysis from Decision Desk HQ live from Georgetown Law School. Cherie Grzech notes the importance of readiness: “We will make sure we can sustain coverage throughout the week, 24 hours if necessary.”
Lessons from 2020
The 2020 election provided a roadmap for handling extended vote-counting, highlighting the need for constant updates as results come in. Mary Hager, an experienced political editor, shares that networks are ready to break into regular programming as needed.
The increased use of mail-in ballots has altered the landscape of election coverage, turning what once might have been a glitch into a standard feature. David Challian from CNN remarks, “It’s a new reality of American life.”
The role of trusted figures
Engaging anchor teams are crucial to retaining viewer interest. Networks are deploying their best-known personalities. For example, Fox News viewers can expect Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier, while CNN audiences will see Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer, and Anderson Cooper. MSNBC‘s Steve Kornacki will be manning his interactive map, crunching data and providing constant updates. Rashida Jones assures, “Kornacki is going to be on set when that big moment happens.”
Contingency plans for continuous coverage
As the vote counts may stretch on, networks have shift changes in place to keep coverage fresh. CBS News plans an influx of fresh talent for the morning after the initial coverage. Keeping audiences informed and countering disinformation is paramount, and networks are ready to address any baseless theories that may emerge.
A watchful eye for any scenario
Despite the chaos that can ensue, there remains the slim possibility of a swift resolution. NBC News’ Rodriguez admits, “There could be a scenario where it gets called on Election Night… We have to be ready for all of that.”
Stay tuned with us for continuous updates and share your thoughts on social media as we navigate through this pivotal election period.
