Tonight’s the big night for local stations across the country. Reporters, anchors, studio crews, photographers and management types will wait for the pizza delivery while working all night keeping local viewers up-to-date on election results.
Fox, CBS and NBC-owned stations will do what they’ve done for years, supplement network coverage with cut-ins for coverage of local and state races. This time around, the stations will also update viewers through social media, using Facebook Live and other platforms.
Below is a quick rundown of what owned stations are doing:
CBS-owned station KCBS in Los Angeles will have a crew in San Diego to follow Measure C, the ballot measure to help fund a new stadium for the Chargers in downtown San Diego. It’s possible that the Chargers would move to Los Angeles if the measure fails.
NBC-owned stations will have their I-Teams at the ready in case they get reports about questionable voting practices.
New York (WNBC), Philadelphia (WCAU), San Francisco-Bay Area (KNTV), Miami-Fort Lauderdale (WTVJ) and Washington, D.C. (WRC) I-Teams will open up their tip lines to answer questions from local viewers who express concerns about voting irregularities. If a viewer reports a problem at the polls, the stations’ I-Teams will investigate.
In South Florida (NBC 6 / WTVJ and Telemundo 51 / WSCV) and in the Bay Area (NBC Bay Area / KNTV and Telemundo 48 / KSTS) will open an Election Day tip line. Both stations will answer local viewers’ concerns, regardless of language.
In Chicago, WMAQ (NBC5) will have an investigative producer and a reporter based at the city’s Board of Elections to monitor issues throughout the day and night.
To accompany the stations’ work about voting irregularity concerns, the NBC and Telemundo-owned stations will also provide viewers an opportunity to submit their tips online, in English and in Spanish.
Fox-owned WOFL in Orlando will have something called Special Digital Extra: Election Results show: You Decide 2016 which will air with late-breaking results, live reports from across Florida, and political experts providing analysis of big Florida races and the President race.
· Newscasts will stream on website and reporters will provide updates from the field via Facebook Live
· Results will be posted on station websites & and Election Alerts will be pushed out on Facebook
Fox–owned stations will also use Facebook Live with reporters at various election HQs, and acceptance and concession parties.
Houston’s KRIV will air a Facebook Live “What’s Your Point”Panel from 7 to 9 p.m.
Phoenix’s KSAZ “FOX 10 News Now” will simulcast on Facebook page/ YouTube Channel
· It will feature live coverage from FOX 10 anchors/reporters all afternoon & evening focusing on Arizona local races and major races
· FOX 10 will be participating in #50States, an exciting Election Day initiative in which outlets across all 50 states will be streaming on Facebook Live as Americans head to the polls. The live videos will give voters real-time access as the voting process gets underway in your home state and across the US. Follow the hashtag #50states, for exclusive views from the field and a live look at how the elections are playing out on November 8.”