Amazon Prime Video is hosting a special election night broadcast, Election Night Live with Brian Williams on November 5, 2024, at a 5 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT live event. Amazon Prime has collaborated with longtime anchor Brian Williams to anchor this one-time-only special.
This will provide viewers with real-time reports of the polls, in-depth commentary, and exclusive access.
As Williams states, “After 41 years in the business—from local news to network shows to cable news—this feels like the next big thing.”
Included in the broadcast, will be an analysis from a broad swath of prominent guests across media, offering their expertise in a format Prime Video has been touting as ideal for following election night developments.
Election Night Live with Brian Williams brings election season live shows to the OTT platform
With Election Night Live with Brian Williams, Amazon Prime enters the news space, taking an election night broadcast that caters to seasoned political followers as well as those looking for some entertainment. What's surprising is that Amazon Prime does not have a news arm like the rest of the news networks.
This means Election Night Live will draw from independent and non-partisan news resources from all points of the political spectrum, providing the kind of politics "RedZone" treatment described in The Hollywood Reporter to track election returns live in real-time, like a sports broadcast for politics.
“Prime Video is excited to host Brian Williams for a one-night-only Election Night special event,” said Albert Cheng, VP of Prime Video.
The event, he explained, will draw from partner channels like ABC News, CBS, and CNN to offer an expansive, non-partisan viewing experience. Williams, an across-the-board household name with nearly three decades at NBC, brings gravitas to the project, marking his return to the election night desk.
Noted for his work on NBC Nightly News and MSNBC, Williams will be joined by guests from across the political spectrum, ensuring diverse perspectives. The special promises insights from experts and seasoned commentators weighing in on unfolding results and their implications.
This collaborative approach manifests Amazon's unique take on election coverage to a global audience that is immune to political allegiance.
Election Night Live with Brian Williams has an experienced production team
Prime Video is believed to have hired Glenn Weiss, known for directing the live broadcast of events including the Oscars and Emmys, to also direct Election Night Live. Weiss and his producing partner Ricky Kirshner, who founded White Cherry Entertainment, bring a long history of high-profile live events to create a smooth dynamic election night.
Jonathan Wald, a veteran of NBC and CNN, will executive-produce, which lends the show credibility. Election Night Live is designed by Albert Cheng to give today's viewers a direct, seamless way of keeping track of election results. The program will complement the free news offering by Prime Video.
Primarily with its "Live TV" tab, Prime Video provides 24/7 channels that include ABC News Live, NBC News Now, and Reuters among others. According to Amazon's press release, viewers would be able to watch the live special, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership, further expanding access to all Amazon users.
Election Night Live with Brian Williams is an important news live event by Amazon as it is free and open to everybody on election night while awaiting the counting of election results.
Election Night Live with Brian Williams will be streamed for free to any Amazon customer in most regions without a Prime membership.