Seven Network has revealed its line-up for coverage of the upcoming Federal Election.
The coverage is set to feature up-to-the-minute polling results, informed commentary and analysis from an unrivalled team of journalists and political experts live on Channel 7, 7plus and across 7NEWS.com.au and social platforms on Saturday, 21 May.
7NEWS political editor Mark Riley joins Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr and 7NEWS anchor Michael Usher in leading the nation’s most comprehensive and dynamic election coverage – this year featuring an Australian television-first the “Screen of Dreams” which is set to fast-track winners and decide our next government.
The state-of-the-art, touch-screen technology, made famous by CNN’s John King during the dramatic unfolding of the most recent US Presidential election, proved invaluable to viewers as it was able to process pre-poll and postal trends, which look set to be mirrored this election and play a significant role in deciding the winners.
With the Australian Election Commission confirming more than two million pre-poll votes have already been lodged before Election Day, the early figures and voting trends will feed into 7NEWS’ specialist analysis and advanced number-crunching, giving Australians the definitive breaking and scrutinised results ahead of the pack.
Adding insight from within the major parties and players, Seven’s expert panel will include Labor’s campaign ‘pin up’ Jason Clare, former ACT chief minister, senator Katy Gallagher and shadow minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, while former Coalition star and Morrison Government’s first Defence minister, Christopher Pyne, incumbent attorney general and minister for Industrial Relations, Michaelia Cash and deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud will aim up for the LNP.
Alongside the revolutionary “Screen of Dreams” will be “The Panic Station”, filled with the smartest numbers’ operatives from both major parties who will help put 7NEWS viewers well ahead of the rest in determining when seats are won and lost.
The Seven Network all-day coverage of the decider will begin with an extended edition of Weekend Sunrise from 7.00am as well as a special one-hour national news from 4.00pm.
Prime-time election coverage will begin from 5.00pm before polling booths close. Coverage will then break at 6.00pm as Mark Ferguson presents Sydney’s 7NEWS, before the all-star coverage of counting and concessions will resume from 7.00pm.
7NEWS’ Chris Reason and Angela Cox will follow the leaders and report from Coalition and Labor headquarters, while the network will use its vast resources around the country to bring viewers all the chaos (and democracy sausage updates) from key battlegrounds and booths in all states and territories.