NG
I don't think there's an open talkback line from the network master control counting down the times to a SR. However networks have made their productions control room audio feed available on election night so the local stations can listen in and know what's going to happen.
I believe Fox can remotely control and override a stations signal for a special report.
Edit : Worth noting that some special reports are optional while others are mandatory.
That's a major difference to the UK.
The BBC have a permanent talkback circuit to every English region and the three national presentation operations (Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland). This usually is a switched talkback from Network control for each network (NC1 or NC2 usually) but NC1 is switched to talkback from the news gallery for the integrated headlines in the One/Six/Ten o'clock News. (This feed had the director and the digital countdown voice on it.) This is a complicated network switch - as the ident before the One/Six/Ten is an opt-controlled by NC1, the 15" headline opt in the headline sequence is an opt controlled by the One/Six/Ten gallery. Only a brief period to make the talkback switch every day. (I think NC1 switch it)
For the General election, Children In Need etc. and other shows with major opt-outs controlled by a particular production gallery, the talkback will be switch to those.
How about Presfax?
Presfax is there for guidance, but not control. It isn't, or wasn't, always that reliable, and has no real integration with the non-playout opts within News, Children in Need etc. It IS useful for seeing what you are opting out of and back in to (if you are blanketing a network trail for instance)
noggin
Founding member
I don't think there's an open talkback line from the network master control counting down the times to a SR. However networks have made their productions control room audio feed available on election night so the local stations can listen in and know what's going to happen.
I believe Fox can remotely control and override a stations signal for a special report.
Edit : Worth noting that some special reports are optional while others are mandatory.
That's a major difference to the UK.
The BBC have a permanent talkback circuit to every English region and the three national presentation operations (Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland). This usually is a switched talkback from Network control for each network (NC1 or NC2 usually) but NC1 is switched to talkback from the news gallery for the integrated headlines in the One/Six/Ten o'clock News. (This feed had the director and the digital countdown voice on it.) This is a complicated network switch - as the ident before the One/Six/Ten is an opt-controlled by NC1, the 15" headline opt in the headline sequence is an opt controlled by the One/Six/Ten gallery. Only a brief period to make the talkback switch every day. (I think NC1 switch it)
For the General election, Children In Need etc. and other shows with major opt-outs controlled by a particular production gallery, the talkback will be switch to those.
How about Presfax?
Presfax is there for guidance, but not control. It isn't, or wasn't, always that reliable, and has no real integration with the non-playout opts within News, Children in Need etc. It IS useful for seeing what you are opting out of and back in to (if you are blanketing a network trail for instance)