CNN Intl plans multi-platform coverage for US mid-term elections

CNN Intl plans multi-platform coverage for US mid-term elections

MUMBAI: With less than a month before the US mid-term elections are held CNN International rolls out America Votes 2006 across its global television, internet, broadband and wireless services.

The channel notes that the stakes could not be higher with US Republicans battling to keep both houses of Congress and Democrats hoping public discontent with the War in Iraq will give them an advantage. CNN’s team of political correspondents will bring coverage to more than 198 million television households, millions of internet users via CNN.com and via broadband on CNN Pipeline. Additionally, CNN’s coverage will be available on wireless services around the world.

CNN International VP Rena Golden says, “No other broadcaster can bring a global audience the depth of coverage, the analytical background or quick breaking news like CNN International. Our audiences, whether on television, the internet or wireless, deserve the very best and our award-winning team provides it.”

The channel's coverage culminates on 8 November with live Election Night with programming from New York featuring Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Paula Zahn and Lou Dobbs who will all provide wall-to-wall news and analysis in CNN’s new state-of-the-art studios at the Time Warner Center.

CNN correspondents and affiliates from around the world will also offer up-to-the-minute reports and analysis on how the election results impact the world. Leading up to the election and on Election Night, coverage from the U.S. will be led by senior political correspondent Candy Crowley; chief national correspondent John King; senior national correspondent John Roberts; senior political analysts Bill Schneider and Jeff Greenfield; congressional correspondents Dana Bash and Andrea Koppel; White House correspondents Ed Henry, Suzanne Malveaux and Elaine Quijano.

As the campaign moves into its final stages, CNN International will air a series called Broken Government. These programmes will be featured on Inisght with Jonathan Mann.

· To Do Nothing Congress - CNN White House correspondent Eds Henry – a veteran of a decade covering Capitol Hill – portrays the paralysis brought on by partisanship and obsession over raising money for elections. It airs on 31 October 2006 at 9:30 am and 3:30 pm.

· Power Play - Chief national correspondent John King returns to his former beat, the White House, to report on the Bush administration’s controversial efforts to wrest back executive authority stripped away by Congress in the years following Vietnam and Watergate. This airs on 1 November at 9:30 am and 3:30 pm and on 4 November at 8:30 pm.

· Two Left Feet - Senior political correspondent Candy Crowley will examine why Democratic candidates seem to have such a hard time getting elected and are often out-manoeuvred by Republican opponents who appear to be better organized and faster on their feet. It airs on 4 November at 12:30 pm.

· Where the Right Went Wrong - Senior political analyst Jeff Greenfield looks at those most deeply committed to the conservative cause and their enragement over out-of-control government spending, political pork, nation-building and the president’s more lenient approach to immigration. This airs on 3 November at 9:30 am and 3:30 pm and on 5 November at 12: 30 pm.

In addition extended versions of Your World Today will provide in-depth analysis on the day’s leading political stories in the week leading up to Election Night. Real-time results will be available on CNN.com and on CNN Pipeline, the site's live broadband video news service. Additionally, CNN.com's special election section can be found at www.CNN.com/elections and provides a complete look at the political arena, featuring on-going political news coverage with multimedia packages, galleries, interactive maps, user feedback, expert analysis, quizzes, streamed video and podcasts.

CNN’s coverage of the US mid-term elections will also feature heavily on wireless services around the world. CNN’s wireless election coverage is available in live video streaming, email alerts and updates, on-demand video and internet access.