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US Presidential Election coverage on SBS

SBS is set to provide major coverage of the US election, including the Presidential Debates live to Aussie viewers. Beware Sarah Palin!

SBS is set to give Australian viewers a comprehensive ‘eagle eye’ view on the US election with a string of events, including live Presidential Debates.

There will be four debates live to East Coast viewers (including the juicy Vice-Presidential candidates) beginning on Saturday September 27. All four stream will live on www.sbs.com.au

For the next two weeks Insight will be broadcasting from the US, only the second time in the programme’s history it has ventured beyond our shores. Dateline will also present two programmes in the US.

On November 5, World News Australia will begin its election day coverage from 3.30pm AEST.

“The reaction from viewers to World News Australia’s coverage of Super Tuesday earlier this year proved that our audience has a keen appetite for this content,” said News Director Paul Cutler. “SBS’ commitment to high-quality news and current affairs will be demonstrated yet again, via our thorough coverage of the U.S. presidential election.”

Press Release:
As the world’s most powerful nation heads towards an enthralling presidential election, SBS viewers can expect comprehensive, up-to-the-minute coverage of developments in America.

In the coming weeks SBS’s News and Current Affairs division will present a host of U.S. presidential election programming, including:

• Broadcasting all presidential and vice presidential debates, plus analysis.
• Streaming those debates live on www.sbs.com.au
• A dedicated election news website: www.sbs.com.au/uselections
• Live coverage of election results from 3.30pm on Wednesday, November 5.
• Four special Insight and Dateline programs from the U.S.

Paul Cutler, SBS’s Director of News and Current Affairs says: “The reaction from viewers to World News Australia’s coverage of Super Tuesday earlier this year proved that our audience has a keen appetite for this content. SBS’s commitment to high-quality news and current affairs will be demonstrated yet again, via our thorough coverage of the U.S. presidential election.”

WORLD NEWS AUSTRALIA:
World News Australia will broadcast all presidential debates and the vice presidential debate, commercial-free. The debates (screened live in the eastern states) will be concluded with local analysis by expert Australian commentators.

In addition, all four debates will be screened live on www.sbs.com.au

America Decides: The First Presidential Debate
Saturday September 27
10:55am – 12:30pm (LIVE EST only)
Barack Obama v. John McCain on domestic policy.

America Decides: The Vice-Presidential Debate
Friday October 3
10:55am – 12:30pm (LIVE EST only)
Joseph Biden v. Sarah Palin on domestic and foreign policy.

America Decides: The Second Presidential Debate
Wednesday October 8
11:55am – 1.30pm (LIVE EST only)
Barack Obama v. John McCain in a “town meeting” format.

America Decides: The Third Presidential Debate
Thursday October 16
11:55am – 1.30pm (LIVE EST only)
Barack Obama v. John McCain on foreign policy.

On Election Day, World News Australia will begin its special coverage from 3.30pm, using live CNN feeds, reports from Walkley award-winning senior correspondent Brian Thomson and others on the ground, complimented by analysis from experts in the studio.

America Decides: The Presidential Election Result
Wednesday November 5
3.30pm – 6.30pm approx (LIVE in all centres)

INSIGHT:
Insight, Australia’s premier forum program, is filming two shows from America, hosted by Walkley award-winning journalist Jenny Brockie.

Insight In America: The Election
Tuesday September 23 at 7.30pm
A diverse group of opinion leaders and ordinary Americans have their say on Barack Obama and John McCain, discussing their policies, the impact of the economic downturn and their choice of vice president.

Insight In America: American Dream
Tuesday September 30 at 7.30pm
Young New Yorkers from all corners of this diverse city talk to Jenny Brockie about their country’s future, what they want from their leaders and whether they feel motivated enough to vote in the upcoming election.

DATELINE:
Dateline, SBS’s international current affairs program hosted by veteran journalist George Negus, will present its last two shows of 2008 from the U.S.

Dateline
Wednesday October 29 at 8.30pm
This episode will report on some of the key battleground states, and investigate whether Barack Obama has the support of America’s blacks. In the studio, George Negus leads a panel of experts as they discuss which party is likely to triumph.

Dateline
Wednesday November 5 at 8.30pm
Airing on the night of the election, this episode will keep viewers in touch with the Obama and McCain camps, and cross the country to wherever news is breaking.

Dateline’s U.S. elections website: www.sbs.com.au/dateline/uselections

7 Responses

  1. I agree, I love the dedication to the coverage, however I would prefer an earlier starting time of the coverage. I want to watch the entire tally, not just the final hours.

  2. Well done to SBS for providing full coverage of the US Elections, finally a network who is committed to proper coverage, not short updates of the elections.

    One thing I’m not happy about though, Election Day coverage should start from at least 11am/12pm (even 10am AEST) because 10am AEST would be 6pm ET (11am – 7pm ET) & networks start their coverage in the states at 7pm ET/11am AEST but other than that – like I said above – well done to SBS!

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