How Canadians can watch the U.S. election, with or without cable

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This article was published 04/11/2024 (697 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canadians are eager to see how the results of the contentious U.S. presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will shape the next four years.

But before they can get to that, they’ll have to tune in on Tuesday — not so simple, thanks to a media landscape that’s more fragmented than ever.

“A good chunk of Canadians are getting their news mostly from the internet,” says Philip Mai, co-director of the Social Media Lab at the Ted Rogers School of Management.

He cites a 2023 Statistics Canada study indicating that 85 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 34 primarily get their news from social media or the internet — ranging from news websites to online influencers — while 65 per cent of Canadians aged 35 to 54 prefer these avenues as well. Meanwhile, traditional television remains the main source of news for 65 per cent of those aged 65 and older.

Whether you want a trusted news anchor to track every swing state on a giant touchscreen or you just want quick, drama-free highlights on your phone, here’s your guide to staying informed on election night from north of the border:

If you’re tuning in on TV

Canada’s major broadcasters will each provide comprehensive coverage.

CBC News Network is kicking off with their special “America Votes: Morning Live” at 6 a.m. ET with Heather Hiscox and segueing into a special edition of “America Votes: Power & Politics” with David Cochrane, live from Washington, D.C., at 5 p.m. ET.

Chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault will take over “America Votes” coverage at 8 p.m. ET, joined by “The National”senior host Ian Hanomansing, senior Washington correspondent Paul Hunter and chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton. They’ll provide analysis and updates from CBC journalists in swing states and at the headquarters of both Harris and Trump.

“Canada Tonight” host Travis Dhanraj will take over coverage at 3 a.m. ET with “America Votes: After the Vote.”

CTV News Channel will deliver hourly U.S. election updates starting at 7 p.m. ET. Chief political correspondent Vassy Kapelos will host a panel of Canadian experts to explain what the race means for Canadians. CTV will also have reporters at both presidential candidates’ headquarters providing live results.

Global News will air a live special, “Global News: America Votes,” from Washington, D.C., hosted by Dawna Friesen starting at 9 p.m. ET. She’ll be joined by correspondents Jackson Proskow, Reggie Cecchini, Neetu Garcha, Jeff Semple, Mike Armstrong, Sean O’Shea, Eric Sorensen and Mercedes Stephenson to deliver analysis throughout the evening.

Meanwhile, major U.S. networks such as CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and ABC News are staples for election night coverage and are accessible in Canada through various cable packages.

If you’re a cord cutter

Navigating the U.S. election coverage without traditional cable is quite manageable, thanks to a variety of streaming options.

CBC’s “America Votes” coverage will also stream live on CBC Gem. On top of that, the public broadcaster will provide live results and analysis on the CBC News app and website.

You’ll be able to tune in to CTV News’ election coverage on the broadcaster’s website, which will also provide live election results and analysis throughout the evening.

“Global News: America Votes” can be streamed on the Global News website, YouTube, the Global TV app, Pluto TV and Prime Video.

Pluto TV will stream CBS News 24/7 and Bloomberg Television election coverage all day long. The ad-supported free streaming network also carries CNN Fast, Reuters, Global News National and CBC News Explore.

If you intend to follow primarily on social media

Mai says platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will likely be buzzing with real-time updates and reactions from pundits. But this American election, which has been fraught with misinformation throughout the campaign, will differ from the last one when it comes to how Canadians can see content of the results online.

Due to Meta’s ban on Canadian news in response to a government bill mandating tech giants pay news outlets for linking to their content, election coverage with a Canadian perspective won’t be available on Facebook, Instagram or Threads. Many mainstream U.S. and U.K news organizations such as CNN and BBC News are also blocked.

Some coverage may filter through depending on a person’s network, but Mai cautions those getting their election coverage primarily from social media as there’s “no good vetting system” on those platforms to detect misinformation.

Mai says tech giants have been either shutting down their content moderation departments or reducing their staff.

“So basically, there are fewer cops on the beat. The people who were fact checking content aren’t there anymore.”

This means you will see fewer footnotes flagging misinformation on those platforms.

What’s more, anyone on X can now buy a blue check, which has turned the platform into a “low-trust space.”

Mai suggests being more careful about sharing things you see on social media over the next few days and weeks.

“If something sensational pops up, I would wait a little bit to see if more trusted news sources also share that information. If you see something from a random account that you’ve never seen before, I wouldn’t tweet it right away,” he says.

“The online space is a contested space where belligerents and different parties are trying to control the narrative. And you, the average person, are going to be caught in that fight if you’re not careful.”

Mai says those who want reliable should follow trusted news sources.

CBC News’ YouTube and TikTok accounts will stream its “America Votes” special live starting at 5 p.m. ET, with major news updates also being published on the outlet’s X account.

CTV says it will have a “social presence” on election night, while Global News plans to share election coverage across its social media platforms, with reporters tweeting updates.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.