Tom Llamas says that on Election Night, he’ll stay up late by sipping espresso that he takes the same way he likes his news — without sugar. Hard facts are likely to surface quickly as different precincts, counties and states tabulate their votes in an election that could change control of Congress. The espresso may be necessary, with Llamas, and colleagues Savannah Guthrie, Kristen Welker and Hallie Jackson slated to be together on camera from 6:30 p.m. until at least 2 a.m.
In all, NBC will run 13 hours of election news coverage just on TV, starting at 5 p.m. when Jackson commences coverage, and continue until 6 a.m. with Craig Melvin and Kate Snow anchoring the wee hours of the morning. This kind of sheer tonnage is typically reserved for a presidential contest. Like its TV-news brethren, NBC News finds itself in a challenging position.
An audience that once flocked largely to mainstream TV-news outlets has splintered, with more people gravitating to less formal discussions of the news held by independent journalists and so-called creators via video podcasts and newsletters. What’s more, national elections aren’t necessarily tidy, leaving anchors to explain that whichever party has the lead in early tabulations may find its position reversed later in the evening. NBC is counting on its size and resources to make itself more indispensable in an era of multiple voices.
CBS News and CNN are now part of Skydance, where moves made by the controlling Ellison family around CBS have been viewed with skepticism by journalism advocates. MS NOW, using a name that is only about a year old, has spun off from NBCU and is now part of the smaller media company Versant. Indeed, NBC is making sure its news isn’t only on TV.
More hours of coverage will surface in an uninterrupted digital stream that focuses solely on Steve Kornacki analyzing his popular digital touch screen filled with voting stats and election data. Meanwhile, correspondent Gadi Schwartz will hold forth from Texas in NBC News’ first vertical-video program, offering first hand reactions from reporters on the ground across the nation. It’s really important, now more than ever, to show people how we are getting this information.” Even so, NBC News will make no call before it’s time, says Kim.
It’s important to be right, and to make the decision when we are at 99.5% confidence — at least. We take great care in making that call.” There are even contingency plans in place for chaos. Anchors and producers prepare in case major news breaks that is not tied to the election.
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