Amazon Ventures into Live News with Brian Williams
In a significant move towards the news industry, Amazon is set to launch a newscast featuring a well-known figure in journalism. Brian Williams, the esteemed former news anchor, will host a special program titled “Election Night Live With Brian Williams” on the evening of Election Day. This much-anticipated show will be available on Amazon Video, as announced by the company on Thursday.
The broadcast is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Eastern on November 5, from a state-of-the-art studio located in Los Angeles. Notably, the show will be accessible to all Amazon customers, irrespective of their subscription status to Amazon Prime.
Reflecting on this new chapter in his long career, Williams stated, “After 41 years in the business — from local news to network shows to cable news — this feels like the next big thing. And the global marketplace of Amazon is a natural home for this first-of-its-kind venture. Together we will follow the storyline on election night wherever it leads us.”
Amazon has confirmed that Williams will primarily rely on election results from reputable third-party sources, likely including The Associated Press or Reuters. The show is also expected to feature live commentary from a diverse array of expert commentators, bringing a variety of backgrounds and perspectives to the discussion.
At the helm of production will be Jonathan Wald, a seasoned news producer who will serve as the executive producer and showrunner. Additionally, the show will benefit from the expertise of Emmy-winning live event producers, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, who will oversee the production.
Albert Cheng, a vice president at Prime Video, commented on the initiative, stating, “This nonpartisan live special will draw from major news sources and complement the various partner news channels available on Prime Video. Our comprehensive offering is designed to give today’s viewer a direct and seamless way to keep up with election results.”
This inaugural show featuring Williams is viewed as a critical test case for Amazon, as it seeks to gauge the streaming giant’s potential interest in live news broadcasting. Recently, Amazon has been expanding its portfolio to include live sports, having acquired the rights to the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” and recently investing $1.8 billion for the rights to a significant number of NBA games.