Apple News has locked down a deal with ABC News to provide live video coverage of the upcoming 2020 presidential election and future primary and general debates, the company announced on Monday.
The announcement comes only a few days after the Democratic National Committee said that it would be partnering with Apple News for its February 7th, 2020 debate in New Hampshire. Apple’s collaboration with ABC News is expected to roll out at the same time as the debate, so users will be able to access video clips and live streams of the debate along with subsequent 2020 election coverage. According to Apple, the collaboration with ABC News will last through the 2021 inauguration with coverage of both conventions, presidential debates, general elections, and the inauguration.
“This election is one of the most consequential in modern history, and this unprecedented partnership with Apple News will deliver our world-class political journalism to more people than ever before,” James Goldston, president of ABC News, said in a statement. “It will enable millions more people to have a deeper understanding of the key issues, candidates and events by providing straightforward information, insight and context during the entire 2020 cycle.”
Since 2016, Apple has worked to include special election coverage in its News app. That work continued in deals with news organizations like Fox News, Vox, and Axios throughout the 2018 midterm elections. Last year, Apple News editors curated op-eds and campaign trail coverage in election-dedicated tabs for users to parse. Now, the company will be providing real-time video coverage of debates and elections throughout 2020.
Apple did not describe its deal with ABC as exclusive, but it declined to comment on whether it will seek future election coverage deals with other news organizations.