The news station CNN Prima News will launch its most comprehensive coverage of the parliamentary elections to date in mid-August. Every week, it will offer at least two pre-election debates, thematic specials, and proven formats. The culmination will be the final super duels and a big debate between the leaders before the actual vote.
The broadcast will kick off on August 17 with a special program called "50 Days to the Elections" as part of the show Partie Terezie Tománkové The main phase will begin on September 1 with the first regional debate and will culminate with a weekend election special on October 3 and 4.
"The elections to the Chamber of Deputies are the biggest event of the year for our multiplatform. We are going on air with the aim of offering the fairest and most attractive news coverage possible," says Tomáš Vojáček, editor-in-chief of news and current affairs at CNN Prima News.
Pre-election content will permeate the station's entire program starting in September. The program Co na to vaše peněženka will offer twice-weekly economic debates between the parties, the discussion format K věci will feature daily profile interviews with party leaders, and Divoká karta will be broadcast on Wednesdays and Fridays, giving space to candidates from lower positions on the ballot or parties with lower preferences.
CNN Prima News will also engage online platforms through an app where viewers can ask politicians questions, and the website CNNPrima.cz will provide expanded content, including analysis and graphics.
"The synergy between television and the web allows us to create a platform that brings viewers premium content in real time. We believe that we will once again confirm this role during the elections," adds online editor-in-chief Josef Šťastna.
Election broadcast schedule
- August 17, 11:00 a.m.: Return of Partie and debate 50 days before the elections. The first phase of pre-election broadcasting will kick off with a debate aptly titled 50 Days to the Elections. It will take place on Terezie Tománková's PARTIE program, which is returning after a summer break. The special will feature two major debates with four representatives of the political entities with the highest preferences according to relevant pre-election polls.
- From September 1 – Regional debates on September 1, 8, 15, and 22 / 9:00 p.m. The first regional debate will kick off the main phase of CNN Prima News' pre-election coverage in early September. The leaders of the candidate lists in the individual regions with the largest number of seats have been invited. Four Monday evenings will thus focus on the South Moravian, Moravian-Silesian and Central Bohemian regions. This will be followed by the capital city of Prague. The debates will be moderated by Markéta Fialová and Terezie Tománková.
- From September 3 – Thematic debates on the program 360° September 3, 10, 17, and 24 / 8:15 p.m. Every Wednesday in September will bring a thematic pre-election special of the program 360° with Pavlína Wolfová. Four major debates with studio audiences will focus on key issues such as the state budget, defense and security spending, the Green Deal, and housing and energy costs. Two groups of four guests will answer questions related to key pre-election topics.
- Superdebate between party leaders and viewers on September 25 at 9:00 p.m. A week before the elections, moderators Terezie Tománková and Petr Suchoň will welcome representatives of the seven strongest political parties to a large studio with viewers for a grand superdebate. Viewers of CNN Prima NEWS and the main Prima channel will have the opportunity to compare the arguments of the leading representatives of all parties that, according to polls, have the best chance of success in the elections.
- Superduels between party leaders and election leaders with viewers on September 29 and 30 at 9:00 p.m. and October 1 at 8:15 p.m. CNN Prima News is dedicating the final week before the parliamentary elections to superduels between party leaders, movements, and coalitions. For an hour and a half, they will have the opportunity to discuss the most important issues that concern voters just before the polls open. Moderators: Terezie Tománková, Petr Suchoň, and Pavlína Wolfová.
- "Election candidates who have exceeded the 5% threshold required to enter the Chamber of Deputies at least once in relevant pre-election polls since the beginning of the year and whose electoral preferences, based on the average of relevant models, exceed 3% as of July 13, have been invited to participate in the big debates and super duels on CNN Prima News.
- Election weekend, October 3 and 4. On Friday and Saturday, CNN Prima News will be completely dominated by the elections. On Friday morning between 6 and 9 a.m., presenter Libor Bouček will interview the leaders of the various parties and movements in a special edition of Nový den. The special broadcast will then continue throughout the day.
- On Saturday, CNN Prima News will be running an all-day election center. It will feature predictions from the STEM research institute and live reactions from election headquarters to the first results of the vote count. In the evening, after the main news, the special will continue into the night, with CNN Prima NEWS providing live coverage on television and online throughout the night. The program will be hosted by Terezie Tománková, Petr Suchoň, Petr Převrátil, and Kristýna Malá.
- On Sunday, viewers will see a special post-election edition of Partie Terezie Tománkové, where both winners and losers will discuss the election results. In the evening, CNN Prima News will offer another special edition of 360°.
Source: mediaguru.cz