Inflation may be a top concern for voters in Tuesday’s midterm elections — but broadcast TV is embracing it.
As recently as 2014, the Big Three networks — ABC, CBS and NBC — aired little more than an hour or two of live coverage of midterm results, barely a blip between reality shows, sitcoms and procedurals.
On Tuesday, NBC will offer its local stations 13 consecutive hours of nonstop coverage, beginning in the late afternoon and extending all the way through early Wednesday. CBS and ABC will hand over their entire prime-time coverage to election results, and will return for more coverage overnight.
Because the results span hundreds of local races, midterm nights do not always offer the same tidy on-air narrative that a presidential election promises. But with the balance of power in Congress at stake — and Democrats and Republicans alike calling the evening existential — executives are expecting significant audience interest in Tuesday’s returns.
Here is a look at how the broadcast and cable networks, as well as some of the newer digital outlets, are covering the results.
The Broadcast Networks
NBC will start coverage at 5 p.m. Eastern, and won’t stop until 6 a.m. Wednesday. (Local affiliates will have the opportunity to take the entire package, or to take breaks for their local newscasts.)
The network’s coverage will be helmed by the “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, the “Nightly News” anchor Tom Llamas, the “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker and the correspondent Hallie Jackson. The popular data-cruncher Steve Kornacki will return to his usual perch, ready to frantically punch at his big board. The “Kornacki Cam,” a continuous livestream of the NBC data analyst, will go live at 5:30 p.m.
CBS formally kicks off coverage at 7 p.m., led by the “Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil, the morning show co-hosts Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell, and the “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan. A livestreamed “Nerd Show” featuring the network’s polling experts will simultaneously air online from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
And ABC will kick off four consecutive hours of coverage at 7 p.m., with the “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir leading the coverage. Mr. Muir, along with a team that includes “World News Tonight” Sunday anchor Linsey Davis and “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz, will be live for seven consecutive hours on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+.
The Cable Networks
Fox News’s coverage will be hosted by the anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, with Bill Hemmer utilizing the interactive digital map known as “The Bill Board.” An A.I. chatbot has been created on the channel’s app so users can ask specific questions about ongoing results. And Arnon Mishkin, the cello-playing pollster, will again be in charge of the network’s decision desk.
Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper will lead CNN’s coverage, which includes John King and his usual “magic wall,” the name of his touch screen interactive map. The network said Mr. King would be outfitted with multiple magic walls for the first time, featuring additional data. On MS NOW, Rachel Maddow will lead an ensemble team including network favorites like Nicolle Wallace and Ari Melber. The anchor Ali Velshi is in charge of the “Big Board,” its digital interactive map.
Digital Livestreams
Of course, there will be hundreds of online sources for voters to consult, too. Nate Silver, the veteran election forecaster, will host a livestream with, among others, the writer Matt Yglesias. The Dispatch will host another livestream that begins at 9 p.m. Eastern. Chuck Todd and Chris Cillizza are collaborating with Decision Desk HQ, a polling and results-counting service, for livestreamed coverage. (The NewsNation cable network will also be using data from Decision Desk for its five-hour special beginning at 7 p.m.) The Free Press will also have a livestream with Mark Halperin’s video platform, “2WAY.”
Late-Night Shows
There will be, however, few late-night shows offering an on-the-fly comedic take on the results. CBS’s “Late Show” with Stephen Colbert, which regularly aired live episodes on major election nights, was canceled this year. NBC’s extensive coverage means there will be no reactions from Seth Meyers or Jimmy Fallon. “The Daily Show” has a new episode (with Ronny Chieng hosting), but it is taping in the late afternoon.
ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will air a new episode in its usual slot at 11:35 p.m., but it will not be live. Still, there could be some news. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is taping later than usual — after 9 p.m. Eastern — so it can incorporate some early results, and Mr. Kimmel’s guests will be the progressive hosts from the “Pod Save America” podcast.
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