Tegna Stations Livestreaming Debates With Twitter

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Tegna said its stations in four states will be livestreaming debates between candidates for governor and U.S. Senate via their Twitter Accounts.

The debates will also be livestreamed on the stations’ other digital platforms.

Twitter will be amplifying the debate stream from its @TwitterNews and @TwitterGov accounts. It has also created a midterm debate emoji and added it to the official debate hashtags.

“We believe it is our responsibility as broadcasters to provide critical news and information to audiences across our platforms,” said Adam Ostrow, chief digital officer, Tegna. “We’re partnering with Twitter to ensure that voters can also submit their questions and make their voices heard.”

The Tegna stations airing debates are in Oregon, Texas, Maine and Colorado.

“Twitter is where voters go to find live political news and conversation, and we’re excited to work with Tegna during this midterm election cycle to share these critical debates with a national audience,” said Eric Zuckerman, news partnerships manager, Twitter.

Related: Tegna Airing Final Cruz-O'Rourke Senate Debate

Here are details about the debates:

  • KGW-TV in Portland, OR will air the Governor’s debate tonight across its on-air and digital platforms at 7 p.m. PT. By following @KGWNews on Twitter, viewers can submit a question, watch the debate live and discuss the debate using #ORGovDebate.
  • Tegnas 11 stations in Texas are airing and livestreaming “The Texas Debate” between U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso, TX) on Oct. 16 at 8:00 p.m. CT. KENS in San Antonio and WFAA in Dallas are producing and distributing the live debate across Texas. Audiences can follow “The Texas Debate” on KXVA in Abilene @FOXAbilene, KVUE in Austin @KVUE, KBMT in Beaumont @12NewsNow, KAGS in College Station @KAGSNews, KIII in Corpus Christie @kiii3news, WFAA in Dallas @WFAA, KHOU in Houston @KHOU, KIDY in San Angelo @FOXWestTexas, KENS5 in San Antonio @KENS5, KYTX in Tyler @kytxcbs19, and KCEN in Waco @KCENNews and discuss the debates in real time using #TexasDebate.
  • NewsCenter Maine in Bangor and Portland, ME is hosting and airing debates focused on the Governor and U.S. Senate races. @newscentermaine followers can watch and submit questions in advance and live during the debate. The Governor’s debate is scheduled for Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. ET; to engage on Twitter, followers should use #MEGovDebate. On Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. ET, Maine voters will be able to watch the Senate debate and engage on Twitter using #MESenateDebate.
  • At KUSA 9 News in Denver, CO, candidates for Governor will debate on Oct. 17 at 7 MT. Followers of @9News can submit questions and participate in polls in advance of the debate using #CoGovDebate.
Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.