Election 2010

The team that brought you unrivalled coverage of the Federal Election, SKY NEWS, is back on the campaign trail as Victorians decide who will govern their state for the next four years.

Labor, led by Premier John Brumby, is being challenged by Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu and his team in the race to the polls on Saturday, November 27.

SKY NEWS NATIONAL (Channel 601) and SKY NEWS MELBOURNE (Channel 600) will have complete coverage of major campaign events and announcements.

SKY NEWS reporters Ahron Young and Gemma Veness will be following both leaders as they travel around the state.

In a special presentation today at 2.30pm, SKY NEWS Political Editor, David Speers, will sit down with both leaders for one-on-one interviews.

SKY NEWS will also present a series of special events during the lead-up to the election, including; The Leaders’ Debate: Brumby-v-Baillieu today at 7.30pm and a number of Portfolio Debates, where Government and Opposition spokespeople will tackle the big issues of the campaign.

Following the success of The Peoples Forum debates during the Federal Election, SKY NEWS will present another Peoples Forum in Victoria that will again be moderated by David Speers on Wednesday, November 10 from 5.30pm.

On Election Day, SKY NEWS will have live coverage throughout the day from 5.30am with SKY NEWS Chief Political Reporter Kieran Gilbert releasing an exclusive SKY NEWS exit poll, conducted by Auspoll, at 5.30pm

Kieran Gilbert and an expert panel will be on hand to guide you through election night with reporters at the Tally Room in Melbourne and with the Premier and Opposition Leader.

* Note: All programs listed are in AEDT

Australia has decided and it will be a hung Parliament.

Which ever of the two main parties end up taking the victory as such will need to work with the independents and the first ever Green candidate to be elected to the house of reps. A historical night in so many areas – the first Green to win a lower house seat – the first indigenous Australian to win a seat – the youngest ever representative at age 20 to win a seat – the first hung federal parliament since the 1940’s. I could go on – but this is a TV blog site afterall, not a political one!

There was no shortage of choice to keep us up to date with the counting process on TV. All free to air channels covered it in one way or another. Sky News provided rolling election coverage all day, as did ABC News 24 – even dropping the scheduled replay of Four Corners featuring the two leaders at 1pm.

Seven had the 4.30 News on Saturday with Jennifer Keyte – who normally does the nightly 6pm News in Melbourne followed by election coverage from 5pm. Nine started their coverage at 5pm, Ten had their normal First at Five news at 5pm, with Sports Tonight at 5.30, followed by an election special at 6pm, then the Election Project – the 7pm Project on a Saturday night – at 6.30pm. ABC1 carried the election from 6pm. SBS had news at 6.30 with election coverage from 8.30pm. All went live into states not on eastern time.

Ten’s one off 7pm Project – Election Project was enjoyable to watch – during which it looked like the Liberals would romp it in with something like 33 – 20 seats being in their favour. Hughesy called it (albeit jokingly) in favour for the Libs to win.

After 7.30, it was time to decide who’s election coverage to watch. Flicking between the channels, each had different progressive results as to the number of seats had gone to which party. As the night went on – when the hung parliament result looked more likely – what was showing on each of the channels covering the results was equally as hung. Whether it was 72-70 or 71-69 or 70-70 or whatever depended on what channel you were watching, and indeed – the party ahead was not the same on all channels. Each have their own formula for calling seats based on the progressive results.

Nine seemed to have the most detail as far as on screen information was concerned. A bar at the top (later in the night) showed the results by the party in terms of who had won seats, while a bar at the bottom scrolled through seat by seat detailing each result. Only issue with that was they did not show the percent counted – but being able to see the results of each seat was a big plus in their favour.

Seven had less on screen clutter but as a result, showed less detail. ABC1 / ABC News 24 – both carried the same coverage – also featured a bar down the bottom of the screen – but again showed less detail than Nine. As for Sky News, David Speers appeared exhausted – as one might expect after almost single handedly looking after Sky News’ coverage of the election campaign.

Back to Nine – and Barnaby Joyce gave David Swan a hammering when Swan claimed victory for his seat – Karl Stephanovic tried to control the situation to no avail. David Swan did not handle the situation well at all. A big thumbs down for Nine was cutting of Bob Brown – the leader of the Greens – during his speech acknowledging his party’s success in the election. It continued on ABC1/News 24 though.

Come 11pm, when it was clear there would be no result, Julia Gillard appeared in Melbourne to make a speech, followed by Tony Abbott half an hour later.

With no clear result possible, Nine and Seven finished their coverage soon after midnight. ABC1 went to Rage while ABC News 24 continued to go through detailed results of each seat. At 1am, ABC News 24 went to normal news of sorts, showing various highlights of the night.

Ratings for the night will show what Australia decided to watch and no doubt the result will be just as hung as the election result. Ten’s election Project may do well as the only primary channel light entertainment program on at the time, while the most likely result will be close match between Seven and Nine. Digital channel shares could be huge like they are every Saturday night. Digital channels (other than ABC News 24) were unaffected by the election and thereby provided viewers with alternatives for the night.

ABC News 24 has made major programming amendments over the weekend to ensure they have the election well covered.

Saturday August 21

4:01am     National Press Club Address: Julia Gillard: Prime Minister
(CC, Repeat)
Julia Gillard: Prime Minister.

5:10am     ABC News Update

5:15am     The Drum
(Repeat)
Hosted by Steve Cannane, this program brings together a panel of journalists and commentators with a diverse range of opinions to chew over the events of the day.

6:00am     ABC News Breakfast Election Special
(CC)
ABC News Breakfast Election Special.

10:00am     ABC News 24: Election Day
(CC)
ABC News 24 Election Day Special.

1:15pm     Four Corners
(CC, Repeat)
Two parties, two policies and two ambitious leaders trying to win over swinging voters. Are they leading or are they simply telling people what they think they want to hear?

2:00pm     ABC News 24: Election Day
ABC News 24 Election Day Special.

6:00pm     ABC News 24: Election Day
ABC News 24 Election Count.

11:30pm     ABC News 24: Post Election Wrap
ABC News 24 Post Election Wrap.

2:00am     ABC News Update: Election Wrap
Election Wrap.

3:00am     BBC World News
The latest international news direct from the BBC.

3:30am     One Plus One
(Repeat)
Weekly interview program hosted by Jane Hutcheon with contributors around the country. Interviews with newsmakers, news-breakers and the stories behind the news.

Sunday August 22

4:01am     Big Ideas
(Repeat)
Presents the best public talks, debates and lectures from Australia and around the world.

5:00am     ABC News Update: Election Wrap
Election Wrap.

6:00am     ABC News
(CC)
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

9:00am     Insiders
(CC)
A not-to-be missed analysis of the week’s political news, with interviews, discussion and analysis with Barrie Cassidy and guests.

10:30am     ABC News
(CC)
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

12:20pm     Winner’s Election Night Speech
Winner’s Election Night Speech.

12:30pm     The Drum
ABC News 24 Special.

1:00pm     ABC News
(CC)
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

2:20pm     Winner’s Election Night Speech
(Repeat)
Winner’s Election Night Speech.

2:30pm     The Drum
ABC News 24 Special.

3:00pm     ABC News
(CC)
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

3:30pm     ABC News Update

3:31pm     The Drum
(Repeat)
ABC News 24 Special.

4:00pm     ABC News
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

4:30pm     ABC News Update

4:31pm     The Drum
(Repeat)
ABC News 24 Special.

5:00pm     Election Special
Election Special.

6:00pm     ABC News
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

6:30pm     Inside Business
(CC, Repeat)
Alan Kohler with analysis and comment on the events and issues concerning business, investors and entrepreneurs.

7:00pm     ABC News
(CC)
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

7:30pm     Insiders
(CC, Repeat)
A not-to-be missed analysis of the week’s political news, with interviews, discussion and analysis with Barrie Cassidy and guests.

9:00pm     The World
(CC)
National and international news featuring reports from the ABC’s network of international correspondents and offering a forum for extended news stories, interviews and insights from around the world.

9:30pm     One Plus One
(CC, Repeat)
Weekly interview program hosted by Jane Hutcheon with contributors around the country. Interviews with newsmakers, news-breakers and the stories behind the news.

10:00pm     ABC News
(CC)
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

10:30pm     ABC News Update
(CC)

10:31pm     The Drum
(Repeat)
ABC News 24 Special.

11:00pm     ABC News
(CC)
The latest news, breaking news and live coverage of events as they happen from Australia’s largest broadcast news network. Comprehensive coverage, original reporting, and analysis of news in Australia and around the world.

11:30pm     ABC News Update
(CC)

11:31pm     The Drum
(Repeat)
ABC News 24 Special.

12:00am     ABC News Update

12:01am     Election Special
(Repeat)
Election Special.

1:00am  Normal schedule resumes.

Note: Program subject to change. (CC) means show is closed captioned.

With less than 48 hours until Australia goes to the polling booths, the Nine Network continues to deliver viewers the most comprehensive election coverage.

Tonight at 6.30pm on A Current Affair, Tracy Grimshaw will go head-to-head with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. The Walkley Award-winning journalist brought viewers the first one-on-one television interview with our first female Prime Minister and tonight will sit down with Gillard as she puts forward her case for the Labor government to be elected for a second term.

Tomorrow night on A Current Affair, Grimshaw will grill Tony Abbott on why he should become Australia’s 28th Prime Minister.

Then, as Australians wake up on election day, the team at Weekend Today will once again have the final word from the leaders of our two major political parties.

Leila McKinnon and Cameron Williams will be joined in the studio by Gillard and Abbott from 7.00am on Saturday morning. The two leaders will present their final pitches to the nation in an attempt to sway the opinion of the thousands of undecided voters whose choice will be crucial to the outcome of this election.

Nine’s election coverage will resume at 5.00pm on Saturday in Election 2010: Australia Decides.

JULIA GILLARD:           TONIGHT AT 6.30PM ON A CURRENT AFFAIR

TONY ABBOTT:            TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6.30PM ON A CURRENT AFFAIR

GILLARD & ABBOTT:   SATURDAY MORNING AT 7.00AM ON WEEKEND TODAY

As Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott continue to fight it out for the nation’s top job Channel Seven today announced an Australian first, 7 News SMS Election Alerts.

People can now SMS their postcode to 0450 MYVOTE (0450 698 683). Standard SMS rates apply.

Then on election night Channel Seven will send regular alerts with the count in their local seat, plus the latest in the contest between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.

Viewers can register for results from up to 15 seats, and request an update at any time during the night.

Whether people are at home watching Seven’s ‘Your Call 2010’ this Saturday night, or out, Seven will bring them the latest results.

Terms and conditions for using 7 News SMS Election Alerts can be found on the Seven News Website at www.yahoo7/news.com.au

Viewers will also be able to interact with Seven’s broadcast at www.yahoo7.com.au/election

Seven’s election night coverage will be on air from 5pm, Saturday August 21.

Australians vote Seven number one when it comes to news and public affairs.

The biggest drama event of the yearrrr….

See the channel Nine election coverage promo – done only the way channel Nine would!

Not sure if to take it seriously or if they are sending up themselves on this one!!

Election day 2010 – it’s here!

If you want to keep up to date with the progress of the count on the night, there will be plenty of choices. If you don’t, then you still have plenty of options, thanks mostly to free to air digital channels and Pay TV.

Here’s the guide as to what will be on TV Saturday August 21. Updated with programming changes as of August 21.

Nine:
Virtually within seconds of the election being called, Nine sent out a press release spruiking their election night coverage featuring Laurie Oakes, amongst others. On Nine, election coverage will start from 5pm with a one hour special looking at the campaign and how the two leaders have faired. After the 6pm news, Nine will broadcast live from the tally room with expert opinion and analysis through the night. SA and WA viewers will see the coverage live.

Weekend Today will be extended to 10am with both Julia and Tony appearing on the show.

Read more about Nine’s coverage here.

Check out Nine’s promo for their Election Coverage here.

Seven:
Seven will have a special Saturday edition of the 4.30pm news at 4.30pm (eastern states only). This will be followed by live coverage from 5pm and then 6.30pm after their 6pm news. Seven’s election night coverage will also feature up to date news, information and views as the counting continues through the night. Seven’s coverage will be live across the nation, meaning it starts at 4.30 in SA and 3pm in WA.

Weekend Sunrise is extended to 10am.

Read more about Seven’s election night coverage here.

ABC1 and ABC News 24:
Live coverage starts at 6pm eastern, 5.30pm in SA/NT and 4pm in WA on both ABC1 and ABC News 24, and will be hosted by Kerry O’Brien from Canberra’s Tally room. ABC’s coverage will also stream live online. For more information about ABC’s election night coverage, click here.

ABC News 24
Apart from the coverage after 6pm that airs on ABC1 as well, ABC News 24 have abandoned regular programming for 2 days to bring non-stop election coverage over Saturday Aug 21 and Sunday Aug 22. Read more here.

Ten:
Ten news at Five will actually be live around the country on Saturday August 21, meaning it will air at 4.30pm in SA and 3pm in WA. Ten’s news will be a special 90 minute bulletin covering the days’ events and will be followed by a VERY special 7PM Project called: The 7PM Election Project.

In eastern states, The 7PM Election Project will be seen at 6.30pm, followed by AFL at 7.30pm. After the AFL at 11pm eastern, will be a one hour news special updating election results.

AFL on that night is Adelaide Vs Collingwood – seen at 7.30pm in Melbourne and Brisbane, Live at 6.30pm in Adelaide and 5.30pm in Perth. In Sydney, it’s the Sydney Swans Vs Western Bulldogs from 7.30pm.

The live AFL in Adelaide also means they will miss out on half of the 7PM Election Project.

Ten In summary:
East / SA / WA
5.00 / 4.30 / 3.00 Ten News
6.30 / 6.00 / 4.30 The 7pm Election Project
7.30 / 6.30 / 5.30 AFL
10.30 / 10.00 / 8.30 Ten News Election Wrap Up
11.30 / 11.00 / 11.30 Movie Idiocracy.
Note: Perth has another movie TBA at 9.30pm between the news and Idiocracy.

Note also: Before the Game will not be seen that night.

Read more about Ten’s coverage here.

SBS ONE:
Updated. World News Australia will air from 6.30 – 7.30pm, followed by Monster Moves at 7.30pm.

Then Saturday Aug 21, 8.30pm – 10:30pm AEST: News anchor Anton Enus and Chief Political Correspondent Karen Middleton host a live panel program as the results come in, joined by expert political commentators.

PAY TV.

Sky news Australia
Naturally Sky News Australia will provide comprehensive multi-channel and interactive election coverage, spear-headed (ha!) by their political editor David Speers – who will no doubt need some well earnt time off after the election. On the night, Sky News will offer election coverage on both channels 601 and 602.

Sky News’ is also advertising rolling coverage from 5.30am.

To read more about SKY NEW’s most comprehensive election coverage in Australian history (their words, not mine), click HERE. 

All other Pay TV channels business as usual – as you’d expect!

Free to Air Digital Channels
If you want to escape all the election coverage on the main channels, then check out what is on the digital channels.

ONE – Your election night sports fix.
Pretty much business as usual on ONE, covering the AFL the same time as Ten, with Sports Tonight at 7pm eastern and the AFL post game show after the AFL.

At 11.25pm eastern, see live German Football as Hoffenheim take on Werder Bremen.

SBS TWO – Docos and movies.
Programming includes the Squiz at 6pm, A Fork in Australia at 6.30, Cooking in the Danger Zone at 7pm and History of Britain at 7.30. A French murder mystery called Spiral at 8.30, followed by the French movie Lemming at 9.30. German movie 666: In Bed with the Devil follows at 11.45.

7TWO – Best of British night.
Business as usual on 7TWO with Doctor Finlay at 6.30, Heartbeat 7.30, Lewis at 8.30 and Minder at 10.30.

GO! – for Saturday night movies.
Updated. Movies on GO on August 21 include Blast From the Past from 6pm followed by Wedding Crashers at 8.30pm. Late change. At 11pm, if you missed the premiere of Spartacus: Blood and Sand on Wednesday night, you can see an encore at 11pm Saturday night.

ABC2 – Entertainment election escape!
Programming includes IPC Swimming highlights from 6, then Heartland at 6.45 and Heart and Soul at 7.35. The 1968 movie Once Upon a Time in the West is on at 8.30 followed by Gulliver’s Travels – made in 1939 – at 11.10.

ABC3 – Children’s election escape!
6pm The Twisted Whiskers Show followed by Escape from Scorpian Island at 6.30. Then it’s Rush TV from 7 and Good Game at 7.25. From 7.45pm see four episodes in a row of Dragon Booster before the channel closes for the night at 9.10.

I’ve always wondered why ABC3 doesn’t run later on weekend as many kids stay up past 9pm on a Saturday.

Note: All programming here subject to change by the respective networks. All details above prepared using advanced guides and press releases provided by the various networks.

As you would expect, SKY NEWS is promising: THE  MOST COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL ELECTION DAY BROADCAST IN AUSTRALIAN HISTORY.

Sky News will bring election coverage over not one but TWO channels, as well as their range of digital interactive services on offer.

Here is the press release:
 
When Australia goes to the polls next Saturday, August 21, SKY NEWS, Australia’s News Channel, will deliver unparalleled coverage of one of the closest elections in history.
 
In the most comprehensive live broadcast ever staged for a Federal Election, SKY NEWS’ coverage will feature a combination of unique digital TV channel offerings and reporting teams in key electorates across the nation.
 
SKY NEWS’ reporting team of specialist political journalists will be headed by Political Editor David Speers, with Chief Political Reporter Kieran Gilbert, Political Reporters Ashleigh Gillon and David Lipson, together with the highly-respected Helen Dalley, and political contributor Peter Van Onselen.
 
SKY NEWS reporters on assignment around the country includes; Michael Willesee, Celina Edmonds, Leigh Hatcher and Bridie Barry along with SKY NEWS local correspondents in all major states.
 
David Speers will anchor the coverage from Sydney and will be joined in studio by an exclusive panel of experts headed by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke (Chanel 601).
 
Peter Van Onselen will anchor coverage from the National Tally Room in Canberra (Channel 602).
 
Both channels 601 and 602 will operate as separate broadcasts, and will simulcast during key moments as the result unfolds throughout the evening.
 
SKY NEWS Chief Executive, Angelos Frangopoulos, said “SKY NEWS will deliver the most comprehensive and in-depth coverage of an election ever mounted by an Australian broadcaster, and this time we are also taking our coverage worldwide live in another breakthrough.
 
“SKY NEWS is dedicated to leadership in political reporting and investment in innovation and journalism to give consumers ever-better quality and choices”.
 
SKY NEWS Election Day coverage begins at 5.30am with First Edition. Later in the day, an exclusive exit poll conducted for SKY NEWS by Auspoll will provide early pointers to the likely result.
 
The broadcast will include instant live updates from the campaign headquarters of both leaders. Ashleigh Gillon will be with Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Melbourne and Kieran Gilbert will be with Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, in Sydney.
 
SKY NEWS will also have reporters with live cameras in ten key electorates spanning across Australia from Townsville (Far North Queensland) in the North, Launceston (Tasmania) in the South, Bondi Junction (New South Wales) in the East and Perth (Western Australia) in the West.
 
The SKY NEWS Election Night panel includes:
 
·         Bob Hawke, former Labor Prime Minister
·         John Hewson, Former Opposition Leader
·         Senator Eric Abetz, Liberal Senator for Tasmania
·         Senator Penny Wong, Environment Minister
·         Tony Burke, Sustainable Population Minister
·         Fiona Nash, Nationals Senate Deputy Leader
·         Bruce Hawker, Labor Strategist
·         Grahame Morris, Liberal Adviser
 
For this Election, SKY NEWS has developed a state-of-the-art program of digital graphics, assisting David Speers and the team to provide instant information and analysis and providing viewers with unrivalled explanatory displays.
 
The SKY NEWS broadcast will be delivered live nationally on cable and satellite, as well as online and on mobile networks. In addition, the SKY NEWS Election Day broadcast will be made available live to 98% of the globe through an exclusive 7-satellite network that SKY NEWS has commissioned for the day.
 
SKY NEWS MULTIVIEW provides unparalleled coverage with eight simultaneous split-screens of video and text choices, and two additional channels dedicated solely to each of the major parties with The Labor Channel and The Coalition Channel.
 
SKY NEWS’ main election coverage will be streamed live on www.skynews.com.au and on News Limited websites.
 
SKY NEWS is the only broadcaster to have covered every Federal, State and Territory election live and nationally for the past decade. Australia’s News Channels also provides Australia’s only public affairs channel A-PAC.
 
* Note: All programs listed are in AEST

Read about what all the other channels are doing August 21 HERE.

As Australia prepares to go to the polls on Saturday, August 21, the Nine Network is assembling a lineup of its most trusted faces, together with a host of expert commentators, to provide the nation with the best results coverage in Election 2010: Australia Decides.

Laurie Oakes, the political specialist with more than 46 years of reporting experience who has created his own headlines throughout this campaign, will spearhead Nine’s broadcast from a specially constructed set in the National Tally Room in Canberra.

Joining him from the nation’s capital as hosts of the coverage will be Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic.

Tracy Grimshaw will be reporting from Melbourne with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, while Peter Overton will be with the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, in Sydney.

They will be joined by a panel of Australia’s top political brains and opinion-formers on election night which includes:

- Senator Mark Arbib: At the heart of events throughout the change of Labor leadership and the election campaign

- Peter Costello: Australia’s longest-serving Treasurer

- Nicola Roxon: Federal Health Minister

- Michael Kroger: Liberals’ numbers man

- Christine Wallace: Julia Gillard’s biographer

- Barnaby Joyce: Nationals Senate Leader

Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Mark Calvert, said: “This election is on a knife edge, so bringing our viewers fast and accurate results will be essential. Laurie Oakes has had a terrific campaign and his analysis will make for compelling viewing. With Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson hosting, we believe Nine has the best possible lineup for an historic election night.”