Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 31, 2008 at 09:42:23:
In Reply to: Chicago TV Election Night Line-Up posted by chicagomedia.org on October 31, 2008 at 09:39:43:
Ready to rock
Local TV stations poised to catch election night party from all angles
Are we talking landslide? If you are a true believer in a lot of the hype that is starting to surface, Chicago's very own Barack Obama could pull huge numbers and win in Tuesday's Presidential election.
Should that prove true, Chicago television stations are prepping for a possibly historic victory by adding some special bells and whistles to their coverage of what is always a big night for political junkies. NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 may have the most interesting new twist -- something called "Election Raw," which, starting at 8 p.m., replaces "Weather Plus" on Digital Channel 5.2 (Comcast Cable Channel 194, RCN Cable 190 and Wide Open West Cable Channel 130).
This feature will offer viewers an uninterrupted live feed from each presidential candidate's headquarters, as well as the Cook County Board of Elections and the planned Obama victory celebration in Grant Park. WMAQ's Web site, www.nbc chicago.com, will have an interactive map so viewers can track presidential electoral votes. CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 is putting a special team of reporters in Grant Park.
And ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 claims it will be the only station in town to offer election results via Web-enabled cell phones at www.abc7togo.com. Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 is adding two new hourlong newscasts for the night at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
(Lewis Lazare, Chicago Sun-Times)