Not all of CNN’s election night coverage will be on the familiar cable network.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-backed news organization will use “livecasting” to produce plays for younger digital audiences on its new subscription-based “all-access” streamer, but the programming will not be available to viewers who only watch traditional TV. During the show, host Harry Enten will lead a group that includes provocative radio host Charlamagne Tha God, conservative podcaster and author Ben Shapiro, and technology journalist Carla Swisher. Rather than sitting behind a desk, this group hangs out on couches, vying for votes over food and drinks.
“We’re excited to build on CNN’s best-in-class election coverage and offer a unique, more casual experience for subscribers to CNN’s new streaming service,” said Abigail Crutchfield, CNN senior vice president of Washington and special event programming, who will lead the project. The goal of this program, which sounds very different from traditional CNN programming, is to give streaming viewers unfiltered access to live, smart and engaging conversations with some of the media’s loudest voices as the results unfold. ”
The election night streaming special will be broadcast on “All Access” from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM ET and available on CNN.com, CNN’s mobile app, and comparable apps on connected TV devices.
For years, election night at CNN meant spending hours with anchors like John King, Wolf Blitzer and Jake Tapper, and that’s still the case. But CNN, under CEO Mark Thompson and making a concerted effort to win over viewers who still want to know the news, appears poised to come up with more non-traditional programming that involves different types of connections.
CNN earlier this week launched a new “All Access” subscription tier that relies on a broadband connection. In addition to offering a linear CNN feed, the new service also offers a new way to catch up on news that relies less on familiar TV formulas tied to talent and time slots. Subscribers can click through a collection of CNN reports on a particular storyline to stay on top of trending topics. CNN has been streaming some of its most compelling reporting in recent days, including foreign correspondent Clarissa Ward’s investigation into missing journalist Austin Tice, for viewers to watch at their own pace.
Some companies tested new formats on the eve of the election to attract broadband customers. During the 2024 election cycle, Amazon Prime Video tapped Brian Williams to host a conversation-heavy election night hangout with dozens of journalists, influencers and insiders. The gathering also included Candy Crowley, former host of CNN’s “State of the Union.” Abby Huntsman, former Fox News host and panelist on ABC’s “The View.” Jessica Yellin, CNN and ABC News veteran. Shep Smith is known for his long-term appearances on FOX News and short-term appearances on CNBC. and former CNN anchor Poppy Harlow, who reported her observations from Paris.
What is causing news experiments? Thanks to the proliferation of social media and the rise of independent creators offering their expertise through newsletters and video podcasts, headline enthusiasts have nearly limitless options for information and analysis. Pew Research found in September that 56% of U.S. adults frequently use digital devices to get news, compared to 32% who cited television in the same way. People who do this often. The numbers suggest that news sources continue to fragment. In 2020, Pew found that 60% of U.S. adults frequently use digital devices for news, and 40% frequently use television.
So-called “alternative casting” is all the rage on sports television. For example, ESPN broke new ground by having Peyton and Eli Manning host a casual show with a “Hangout” feel on ESPN2, with the football brothers analyzing Monday Night Football games, which air more formally on ESPN. Amazon’s Prime Video offers several different interpretations of the “Thursday Night Football” telecast. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, NBC Sports offered Peacock streamer viewers a “Gold Zone” option that took them to various live moments in a “whip-around” fashion related to the NFL’s “Red Zone” network.
Election night on CNN’s “All Access” promises to be a little more raucous than traditional TV. CNN used some contributors who had clear partisan leanings and were comfortable with hot-button scenarios. Other guests include Isabel Brown, host of The Isabel Brown Show on the conservative Daily Wire, which examines Gen Z politics, and Ana Kasparian, executive producer of The Young Turks, a show that brings a progressive perspective to politics. Maybe even Van Jones or Scott Jennings won’t be on the bubble like you’d expect from such a commentator.
