BBC ELECTION COVERAGE

The BBC will be providing comprehensive coverage of the U.S. election from an international perspective. There will be special reports and debates over the coming week to tell the world what is dividing America, and to share with you what the world is saying about America. We will also be asking just what America’s commitment to the world is at this time, and what the world actually wants from America.

Watch for regular programming updates via ContentDepot.

Coverage Highlights

Election Night: The BBC World Service will run an Election Special from 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 3 to 5:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, November 4. This schedule is subject to change; watch for ContentDepot alerts with the latest information.

Clock and Program Details:
Election night coverage will follow the BBC World Service clock. Each hour is planned to six or more interviews with both American and international guests. The coverage will include international reactions and analysis, comments from politicians and others as the night progresses.

The focus of the Election Night special will be to provide awareness of the context and connections between the U.S. and the rest of the world and is intended for American and global audiences. It will be global in perspective while dealing with American politics on a local, national, and international level while reflecting the variety of thought, diversity and debate within America. The coverage will include the Presidential race as well as individual congressional and senate races.

Presenters:
London: Philippa Thomas and Ros Atkins
Michigan: James Coomarasamy (in partnership with Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor)
Nevada: Nuala McGovern
Washington D.C: Jon Sopel

BBC Newshour: Each Tuesday throughout October, BBC Newshour will hear from one of four key states across the United States - Arizona, Pennsylvania, Florida and Wisconsin. Each state will be pivotal to the outcome of the US Election on November 3. We hear from big names in politics and talk to reporters on the ground at KJZZ in Phoenix, WHYY in Philadelphia, WUSF in Tampa and WUWM in Milwaukee - to find out why these states matter so much and the big themes to watch as voters head to the polls. Watch for continued program detail (presenter and topic) in APM Weekly and ContentDepot.

BBC OS: Starting October 3 and running through November 7, the weekly BBC OS Conversations program will focus on U.S. elections. BBC OS Conversations reflects on the best of the election conversations that take place every weekday on BBC OS on the BBC World Service. People across the US discuss and share experiences of their lives, which in turn will reflect many of the key issues in the presidential election. Nuala also invites people living around the world to talk to Americans about the questions and observations they have about what is happening in the United States.

This program is 23-minutes and has a week-long air window. See the latest BBC schedule here.

BBC OS is featuring weekly interviews with Nate Hegyi from the Mountain West News Bureau and his 900-mile cycling trip crisscrossing the Continental Divide, interviewing and listening to Americans ahead of the 2020 election. Nate’s journey is supported by America Amplified, a community engagement journalism project based at KCUR.

Global View on 2020: How is the U.S. presidential election being reported on, discussed and commented on in countries like China, Russia, France, Germany and the UK? The BBC World Service brings you Global View on 2020.

This week-in-review module delivers an international perspective on the 2020 elections to your audiences. It can round out your established news programming and can be seamlessly placed during breaks in Saturday programs like Weekend Edition or Weekend All Things Considered. There are two versions available (0:59 or 03:59) for flexibility in your weekend schedule. Visit the program page for more information.

When Katty Met Carlos (new program): A new half-hour, seven-week program that features a fresh perspective on the debate about America's future as a nation and its relation to the world during the 2020 U.S. election. The BBC’s Katty Kay from World News America, and journalist and OZY co-founder and CEO, Carlos Watson, discuss themes around how America is reshaping its future. It will cover topics including identity; racial bias; and politics; issues discussed in the context of an election cycle overshadowed by the Coronavirus pandemic. Find more details and download files from the Partners Site.

Resources

• BBC World Service program page
• APM Election 2020 coverage

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