What you will find in the article:
- The media will not publish exit polls after the election.
- ČT24 will provide live coverage with real-time data on the vote count.
- Prima will show estimates of the candidates’ chances after the first round.
- Czech Radio will produce a six-hour special featuring election coverage.
- Seznam.cz will offer online analyses and interviews with experts.
On Saturday 10 October, after the polling stations in the Czech Republic have closed, the media will not publish estimates of the election results – so-called exit polls – which are based on surveys of voters after they have cast their votes. The reason for this is the nature of the local and Senate elections, in which a large number of candidates are standing under different electoral systems, making it impossible to compile a representative model for an immediate estimate once polling stations have closed. They will draw on preliminary vote-counting data from the Czech Statistical Office. This is according to media reports.
Czech Television expects the first actual data to start coming in from smaller municipalities within tens of minutes of polling stations closing at 14:00. A special election studio will be dedicated to the elections throughout the day. ČT24 will utilise advanced systems for the immediate visualisation of vote counts, predictions and the distribution of seats in local councils and the Senate. The data will be updated in real time directly from the Czech Statistical Office. The studio will feature large-format LED screens.
Prima will not be offering exit polls either; however, thanks to its collaboration with the STEM agency and unique estimates based on data, on Saturday – once the results of the first round of the Senate elections have been tallied – it will show viewers which candidates have the best chance of winning in the second round and what the new balance of power in the Senate might look like.
“Over the election weekend, we will be offering live coverage of the results tally from a special studio. Together with other accompanying programmes, we will provide comprehensive election coverage so that viewers have the opportunity to compare the positions of individual candidates and political groups on the most important issues in local politics,” said Kamil Houska, Director of News and Current Affairs at TV Nova. Bára Divišová and Klára Košacká will guide viewers through the election on Saturday in October as part of the special TN Live election studio.
Czech Radio will broadcast a practical service for voters during the elections. On Saturday from 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm – that is, from the start of the vote count following the first round of the Senate and local elections – Radiožurnál and Český rozhlas Plus will broadcast a joint six-hour special from the newsroom. It will be presented by Jan Pokorný and Tomáš Pancíř. At the same time, regional stations will also be preparing their own live election coverage.
According to spokesperson Aneta Kapucianová, the internet company Seznam.cz will feature standard data analyses, detailed online coverage, reports from campaign headquarters, comprehensive overviews and interviews as part of its election coverage. On election Saturday, it plans to run an election studio from 2.00 pm, featuring political scientists and experts, hosted by Michael Rozsypal.
Pre-election coverage on Czech Television will culminate on 8 October with the ‘Superdebate’ from the National Museum, featuring the leaders of political parties and movements. The day before, Prima will also broadcast its final debate between the leading parties and movements. Karel Havlíček (ANO), Martin Kupka (ODS), Vít Rakušan (STAN), Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), Petr Macinka (Motorists for Themselves) and Tomio Okamura (SPD) have confirmed their participation. On the same day, TV Nova is planning to broadcast the final debate between the candidates for Mayor of Prague on its TN Live portal from 5.30 pm.
Source: mediaguru.cz