The BBC, the most trusted news brand in the U.S., is adding new shows and hours of programming across the BBC News channel, BBC.com and BBC app ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The new lineup adds to the BBC's robust reporting that kicked-off earlier this year, ensuring that audiences globally remain informed from the earliest days of the campaign up through Election Night and beyond.
New show and hours on the BBC News Channel
Beginning Sept. 30, "World News America," BBC’s daily program out of Washington, D.C., will expand from 30 to 90 minutes through mid-November to deliver even more coverage of the election’s biggest moments. Chief presenters Sumi Somaskanda and Caitríona Perry will anchor the program each night from 5-5:30 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. EST.
"Path to the Presidency with Sumi, Caitríona and Katty," a new weekly series featuring Sumi Somaskanda, Caitríona Perry and Katty Kay, premiered on the BBC News channel Friday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. EST. Each week leading up to election night, the limited-run show will feature dynamic discussions and insights about the state of the race based on expert interviews and conversations with sources. The show will be available on the BBC News YouTube channel and in audio form, with episodes airing every Saturday as part of "The Global Story."
"Swing State Voter Voices," a series of special, day long coverage follows as BBC News Chief presenters Sumi Somaskanda and Caitríona Perry, and correspondent/presenters Helena Humphrey and Carl Nasman travel across America to speak to voters in the seven swing states that will play a pivotal role in the outcome of the election. The first stop, which premiered Sept. 12 on the BBC News channel, featured Sumi speaking to voters in Pennsylvania.
"Question Time," BBC One’s flagship political debate program, heads to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a U.S. election special. The program will hear directly from American voters in a key battleground state as they prepare to go to the ballot box. The audience will put their questions and opinions to a panel of politicians and prominent figures, holding them to account on the topics which matter most to them. Chaired by Fiona Bruce, the debate will be recorded at the National Constitution Center on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and broadcast on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 5:45 p.m. EST on the BBC News channel and later on the BBC News YouTube channel. If you would like to apply to be in the audience, please click here.
*Audiences in the U.S. can access the BBC News channel on cable TV, as a livestream on the newly relaunched BBC.com and BBC app, and as a live 24-7 stream on major FAST platforms, including Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, VIZIO WatchFree+, Sling Freestream and Plex.
Always-on digital coverage
The BBC will continue providing dedicated live coverage, analysis and explainers as part of its U.S. Election hub launched earlier this year on BBC.com and the app, led by correspondents from BBC’s Washington, D.C., bureau and around the world. The election hub showcases poll trackers, insights from BBC’s Voter Panels, and InDepth reporting from U.S. special correspondent Katty Kay, disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.
Live content is a key pillar across digital, taking audiences to the heart of the story with real-time rolling coverage in text and video, live audience Q&A’s with BBC experts, and an always-on bespoke U.S. election stream at the tail-end of the election.
Additional expert reporting will feature the best of BBC’s global network including North America editor Sarah Smith and Senior North America correspondents Gary O’Donoghue and John Sudworth. The BBC’s coverage also includes features content that examines the untold or often misunderstood stories of American culture, history and communities.
The newly launched BBC Verify U.S. has expanded its coverage out of Washington, D.C., in the run up to election day. The U.S. team, led by BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins, is made up of disinformation experts including Mike Wendling, Marianna Spring, Rupert Carey, Merlyn Thomas, Jake Horton, Lucy Gilder and Jemimah Herd. The team works to identify and debunk disinformation around major election issues including the economy, voter integrity, campaign finance, immigration and AI and will focus on reactive fact-check journalism around TV debates and claims made on the campaign trail.
For those who prefer to get news directly to their inboxes, "U.S. Election Unspun," BBC’s U.S. politics newsletter led by Anthony Zurcher will increase to twice weekly to deliver exclusive insights on the race for the White House and its global impact. Readers will continue to receive the newsletter every Wednesday and, beginning Oct. 4, will also receive an edition every Friday.
Election-focused documentaries, podcast series and specials
Every Tuesday starting Sept. 24, "The Global Story," BBC’s daily podcast will publish a series of pre-election deep dives on America’s relationship with the world, called “America And.” The six-episode series, hosted by Sumi Somaskanda will cover topics such as the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, Climate Change and Outer Space.
Gabriel Gatehouse is back for season two of "The Coming Storm," the investigative podcast where he explores the complex world of American conspiracy culture and its impact on one of the most polarizing elections in U.S. history. Episodes air every Wednesday.
"Americast," BBC’s award-winning podcast on American politics will increase from two to three times a week as the election draws nearer. The show is hosted by the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher, and The Today Programme host, Justin Webb. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the hosts will bring listeners along as they try to make sense of the increasingly polarized moment and will be on the ground speaking with voters across the country about what matters to them. Every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. EST, audiences can watch visualized episodes on the BBC News channel.
Episodes will feature an update on the Undercover Voter Investigation in which Marianna Spring examines how voters across the political spectrum are being pushed AI-generated clips, misinformation and abusive comments.
"Why Do You Hate Me (USA)": Marianna Spring investigates the social media context in which the election is unfolding — and different extraordinary cases of online harm and hate. Each episode of the podcast exposes the real-world consequences of what's happening online, and its impact on society and democracy in the U.S. Episodes will be available weekly starting Monday, Sept. 23.
"America’s New Female Right," a new documentary that explores the rise of a growing movement on the political right and the women who populate its ranks will be available on BBC Select in the U.S. and Canada beginning Sept. 18.
*BBC podcasts are available across all major podcast platforms.
BBC’s comprehensive, multiplatform Election Night coverage will be announced in the coming weeks.
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