The results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election are going to take a little bit longer, and that’s good news for those of you who plan on watching cable networks’ coverage of this unprecedented election who are also AV fans.
On CNN, MSNBC, ABC, Fox News and other networks millions of people watch for real-time election results make extensive use of AV technology to display election results.
On CNN, the networks Chief National Correspondent John King made a spectacle out of his use of an interactive touchscreen panel as he zooms in and out of counties and goes back in time to compare this year’s results with 2016.
JOHN KING: Let’s look at Michigan
*taps map*
zoom on Ingham County
*taps map*
zoom on Lansing
*taps map*
let’s look at this street.
*taps map*
This house
*taps map*
Let’s look in the living room.
*taps map*
as you can see, Dave has yet to report. Still hope for Biden pic.twitter.com/bpoi359Mj9— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) November 4, 2020
Here’s a better example of the display in use just a day before the election:
CNN on-air personalities refer to the display as the “Magic Wall” or “Magic Map,” but it’s actually called the Multi-Touch Collaboration Wall that was developed by a company, Perceptive Pixel, that was eventually acquired by Microsoft.
Fast forward to 2020, and now CNN’s King makes use of multiple touchscreens. After Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2012, it eventually began producing the more familiar Surface Hub displays.
More AV was on display elsewhere. If you were watching NBC’s election coverage, you’ve seen a massive LED video wall in the background and LCD touch screen panel provided by Planar, according to the company’s Twitter account.
Chances are good if you’re watching U.S. #Election2020 news, our LED #videowall and LCD touch screen display solutions are in studio helping to tell these important stories. | NBC’s election headquarters debuts on ‘Meet the Press’ | via @newscaststudio https://t.co/yATrcVyyv1
— Planar (@planarsystems) November 3, 2020
For Spanish-speaking AV folks that may have been watching Telemundo’s coverage, Planar was there as well, this time with the company’s LookThru Transparent OLED display.
More Planar displays helping with #election2020 news coverage. This time it’s the Planar LookThru Transparent OLED display | Telemundo’s election coverage features monumental augmented reality, newsroom set | via @newscaststudio https://t.co/zUZGT2zZ9U pic.twitter.com/3UkWpRFrEU
— Planar (@planarsystems) November 3, 2020
Like John King, National Political Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC Steve Kornacki took viewers on a trip through several key swing states, dipping in and out of key counties to show how certain areas are voting and how much of that vote is outstanding.
WATCH: @stevekornacki looks at the current state of the 2020 presidential race as results continue to roll in. pic.twitter.com/xHbA1fXuG2
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 4, 2020
And, on Fox News, Chief Anchor Bill Hemmer was using another interactive touchscreen display to essentially do the same thing as King and Kornacki.
While we couldn’t find out exactly what manufacturer provided the technology, Fox News in a press release last month did detail the extensive use of AV in their election coverage, reportedly including 3D and visual effects technology that helped create popular game Fortnite.
The moment that Fox News called Arizona for Biden, which occurred while anchor Bill Hemmer was at the big board gaming out scenarios. pic.twitter.com/H8JbN0G31j
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 4, 2020
That tech was used to create a digitally constructed White House on a large video wall behind the anchors where important data was also displayed, like the number of electoral college votes each candidate has received so far.
As of right now, it’s still unclear who will be the next U.S. president, but at least we still get at least a few more hours of watching this immersive AV being put to use.
