Event PR| Top News Stations Prep for Big Night
Networks Prepare for Election Night Coverage
For some, it’s just another night of election coverage, but for top news stations such as NBC, ABC, CNN, CBS and FOX News, the evening of Nov. 4 could be one of the most memorable pieces of coverage in their broadcasting careers. Election night is like Christmas morning to news channels competing for air time, filled with bright lights and shiny, new gadgets to show off. This year’s coverage will feature both old and new ideas, but each station is putting on a show of their own to set them apart from the rest.
ABC is going for the all-day, marathon approach, beginning its coverage on “Good Morning America” and carrying the race straight to Times Square where footage can be viewed from three giant video screens. NBC will be utilizing the traditional use of the oversized blue and red map of the United States, but rather than simply hanging it behind the anchors in the studio, the network will be projecting the display straight on to the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center, along with draping two, 16-story banners of each candidate over Rockefeller Plaza. In an effort to keep viewers informed round the clock, CBS will have Katie Couric pull the all-nighter and move straight to Webcast coverage following the conclusion of regular airtime at 2 a.m.
It’s apparent that networks have caught up with technology and expanded their methods of broadcasting, but they must not forget their purpose in mainstream media: to deliver the most accurate, informative news and deliver it fast. This will also be a test for the new faces of several news stations as ABC’S Charles Gibson, NBC’s Brian Williams and CBS’s cover girl, Katie Couric, make their first general election debut with their new networks. Taking the broadcast outside of the studio and into New York City landmarks is sure to generate further interest from viewers. Each of these stations seems to have an exciting program in the making, but they must remember to stay focused on the issues at hand and not get so caught up in the glamour of the Big Apple. Tomorrow will mark a moment in history for American politics, but how will viewers remember the coverage of what could possibly be the most controversial election to date? It’s up to the networks to decide that one for us.
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