Sky News and Channel 4 have announced their plans to cover election night 2024 and the campaign- the latter before Rishi Sunak even fired the starting gun.
Find details about their plans for coverage below.
Sky News
Sky News was the first broadcaster to announce its plans for covering the 4 July UK general election night and results after Sunak announced the date on 22 May.
Chief presenter Kay Burley will anchor Election Night Live, the overnight results programme, from a “360-degree immersive studio” normally used by Sky Sports shows like Monday Night Football.
Burley will be covering her 12th UK general election – her first was the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979.
She will be joined by political editor Beth Rigby, Sunday show presenter Sir Trevor Phillips and data and economics editor Ed Conway who will provide analysis and predictions using 3D graphics.
Mayor of Greater Manchester and former Labour MP Andy Burnham will join former MSP and leader of the Scottish Conservatives Baroness Ruth Davidson to provide guest analysis. Davidson recently joined Rigby as co-hosts for a new Sky News podcast, Electoral Dysfunction, also with Labour MP Jess Phillips.
Professor Michael Thrasher will lead the Sky News psephology team, as he has at every election since 1989.
From 7am the following day, lead politics presenter Sophy Ridge, host of Sky’s Politics, will report live from Westminster joined by deputy political editor Sam Coates and Sky News contributor Adam Boulton.
Sky News executive chairman David Rhodes said: “We saw a tremendous response to our coverage of this month’s local elections—and we’ll have much, much more to offer at this UK general election, with the most experienced team, plus the most comprehensive data and analysis, presented online and on TV from the most state-of-the-art studio in the country.
“Our political team is the best in the business—Kay, Sophy, Beth, Trevor, Ed, Sam, and more are ready to bring audiences the full story, first.”
Negotiations are ongoing over Sky hosting one of the expected two party leader debates during the election campaign.
Sam Coates and Jack Blanchard have gone daily (Monday to Friday) with their Politics at Jack and Sam’s podcast.
The broadcaster has signed up Yougov for a weekly voting intention poll.
Sky has said it plans to continue with its Electoral Dysfunction podcast featuring two serving politicians on the presenting team: Labour MP Jess Phillips and Conservative member of the House of Lords Ruth Davidson. Ofcom has banned candidates from taking part in any TV or radio programmes during the campaign.
Channel 4
Channel 4 announced its presenter and guest line-up for election night in April, before Sunak had announced the July election.
Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy will lead the coverage alongside The News Agents co-host and former BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis.
They will be joined throughout the night by fellow podcasters The Rest is Politics hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, as well as “some familiar faces from Gogglebox” providing their takes on the election campaign.
Cathy Newman will be presenting from the campaign HQs for the Conservatives and Labour and Channel 4 News political editor Gary Gibbon will provide analysis.
Clare Balding was originally announced to break down the data for the team but, due to the date that has been announced, can no longer do it as she will be presenting Wimbledon coverage for the BBC.
Louisa Compton, head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, said: “Even superwoman Clare Balding can’t be in two places at once…”
Guru-Murthy said: “I’m so looking forward to joining this brilliant line-up of people to capture an exciting and historic night. We will have piercing analysis, sharp interviews and all those memorable moments as the results come in. I think this is going to be one of those rare election nights we remember for decades so I hope viewers will enjoy spending it with us.”
Press Gazette has asked the other leading broadcasters what their general election plans are and will update this page as they get back to us.
The post Election 2024: How broadcasters are covering UK general election appeared first on Press Gazette.
