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Sky News is to present from across the United States, in four different time zones, with all the latest breaking news, results and analysis for the 2008 US elections.

In addition to some of the most recognisable backdrops in the US – the Golden Gate Bridge and Times Square, Sky News will be broadcasting for a week from its very own White House, perched on an island in picturesque Biscayne Bay in Miami.

The private home, kitted out for the duration of the election week, starting on 27th October, will host some 150 guests from political and economic experts to grass roots voters from across the US. 14 cameras will operate from 27 different camera positions, the swimming pool in the back yard is thought to be the first pool in British TV history which will have 3D graphics laid over the top of it – ‘the pool of polls’ will help Andrew Wilson and other presenters in the White House explain and track current polls in the run up to election night, and a 54 foot yacht will pull up to the house, containing floating voters who will be interviewed on what might swing their vote on the night.

And rather than presenting the majority of the rest of its election coverage from Washington, Dermot Murnaghan will spend time in Indiana – a new key swing state that’s emerged in the past few weeks – before heading for Chicago, America’s “Second City” and the birth place of Barack Obama’s political career. Anna Botting will track the tales from America’s West Coast in San Francisco.

Sky’s U.S. Correspondent Michelle Clifford will follow every step of the final days of the Obama campaign – and be in the heart of the Illinois Senator’s camp on election night. Sky’s Robert Nisbet will tail Republican John McCain and his VP candidate Sarah Palin as they fight to overcome poll figures which putting them up to 14 points behind their rivals – ending in Arizona for McCain’s election night stakeout as America goes to the polls.

Sky News’ Political Editor Adam Boulton will be in Miami, presenting his Sunday Live programme as well as conducting interviews with some of the key Political players in the campaigns. Sky News Presenter and Daily Telegraph Editor at Large Jeff Randall will be lifting the lid on big business issues on the eve of the US Election, and Sky News’ popular Unplugged show will be coming live every weeknight from 27th October from the Miami White House.

ELECTION NIGHT PROGRAMME (TX: 4/11/08, 2300 --- 0600, 5/11/08)

Anchored by Sky’s Jeremy Thompson in New York, Sky News presents the most comprehensive US election results programme in its history. Coverage will come live all night from Obama headquarters in Illinois and McCain headquarters in Arizona, Sky’s Andrew Wilson hosts an election night barbecue in the Sky News White House, bringing in ordinary Americans to watch every moment of the vote – and react to every change in fortune for the two men who want to run the country. Anna Botting tracks voters through a polling station in San Francisco, where they could know who will take over the White House before the state’s polls close at 0500 UK time. In Washington, full analysis from Adam Boulton – and in Sky’s results centre, Martin Stanford will keep viewers up-to-date with every poll, every developing story – every swing state which may hold the key to the White House – all from a state-of-the-art touch-screen virtual environment.

SUNRISE (TX: 0600 5/11/08)

From Sunrise, Sky’s coverage from across America continues – with Jeremy Thompson in New York, Andrew Wilson in Miami, Dermot Murnaghan in Chicago and Anna Botting in San Francisco, taking us through the day as the people of the USA wake up to find who will take over in the White House.

Sky News will also be providing users of Skynews.com with exciting interactive features and additional coverage. There will be a dedicated Election Page on the site from the 27th October, including an interactive map which people can use to follow the results as they come in on election night.  Until then, keen political minds can predict their outcome by plotting results in the swing states and seeing what effect it would have on the overall result.

And in a first for Sky News, skynews.com will be working with popular American political website www.realclearpolitics.com who will be streaming the Unplugged show live every night direct into the homes and offices of the states through the site.

There will also be daily web chats with Sky News’ Washington Political Analyst, Jon Christopher Bua – and of course the message boards for people to air their opinions and predictions of what will happen on results night.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News, said: “This is one of the biggest overseas operations Sky News has ever put on and we will be bringing viewers election coverage and analysis from exciting backdrops and interesting locations, outside of the beltway and offering a view from the real America, outside of Washington. The White House in Miami will provide us with a unique location to bring coverage and insight from the heart of a crucial swing state.”

- Ends -

For more information, please contact:

Charlotte Dixon

Sky News Publicity Manager

charlotte.dixon@bskyb.com

07824824834

Charlotte Reed

Assistant Publicist, Sky News

charlotte.reed@bskyb.com

07920027829

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

• A Decision Time USA graphic is available from the Sky Stills Department on 020 7800 4202
• Images available from Sky Stills Department 020 7800 4202
• Since its launch in 1989, Sky News has established itself as a formidable and innovative force in the world of news broadcasting. It now provides news to around 145 million people in 36 countries in Europe alone, with distribution across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
• Valued for fairness, balance and journalistic objectivity by both viewers and regulators, the award-winning channel has also earned a reputation for the speed of its 24-hour coverage and flexibility in reporting live news – first.

• In addition to its status as one of Europe's leading 24 hour news channels, skynews.com is one of the fastest growing websites on the continent.  It is also available on mobile phones, on desktops, on UK rail platforms and Virgin Atlantic flights.

• Sky.com/news re-launched in April 2007 and has since become the fastest growing news website (Source: Comscore) – it has since been revamped in June 2008 introducing a more interactive, video-rich site with new tolls such as story tracker and choose your news functions. In February 2008 Sky News online was awarded the silver medal in the BT Online Excellence Awards and it revamp

• Sky News now makes a number of programmes for web-only broadcast on sky.com/news These include, ‘Technofile’ - a weekly show looking at the latest technological innovations and ‘Unplugged’ - a new live show broadcast from Sky’s Milbank studio, during which Martin Stanford discusses the most topical and interesting stories of the day – but with no running order, the programme is able to respond to latest developments as they happen.

• Sky News has was named RTS News Channel of the Year in 2008, taking the number of times it has won the award to six of the last seven years. Alex Crawford, Sky News’ Asia Correspondent won RTS Journalist of the Year in 2008.

• Sky.com/news won the Royal Television Society’s innovation award in 2007 for the user generated content it carried during Sky News’ Green Week.

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