Photo Credit: Kathy for Adobe Stock
The Democratic National Convention begins today in Chicago, where more than 50,000 attendees are expected to participate, resulting in a projected direct economic impact to the Windy City of more that $150 million. Road closures now are in effect in the security zone around the United Center and McCormick Place; all delegate hotels are in downtown Chicago, within a 5-mile radius of those venues.
The event represents another economic windfall for a Midwestern city, with the Republican National Convention having taken place last month in Milwaukee. But the DNC Committee hasn't forgotten the positive reception and feedback to the innovative, pandemic-driven hybrid programming employed at the 2020 convention — and is counting on lessons learned to reach an even greater audience.
The DNC will be streamed on more than a dozen platforms, in a bid to extend the reach of its message and content. That's more than ever before, and will include streams on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for the first time in DNC history.
“The convention team set out with an ambitious goal of reaching more Americans than ever before," said DNC executive director Alex Hornbrook. “With more and more Americans consuming their news in new and innovative ways, Democrats stand ready to meet them where they are.”
Hybrid programming accessibility
Programming will be available with either English or Spanish audio, along with live captioning in both languages. American Sign Language interpretation and audio-description services also are being provided to streaming partners.
The official livestream of the convention is available at DemConvention.com, as are a full schedule and resources. Prime-time convention programming will be aired live from Chicago 5:30–10 p.m. Central Time on Monday, Aug. 19, and 6–10 p.m. CT Tuesday–Thursday, Aug. 20-22.
In an attempt to maximize reach, the content will be streamed/broadcast to:
- 8 web platforms (DemConvention.com, YouTube, X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch and Amazon);
- 3 device apps (AppleTV, RokuTV, FireTV); and
- 5 TV providers (Comcast Xfinity X1, Comcast Xfinity Flex, DirectTV via Satellite, DirectTV satellite-free/DirectTV Stream, U-verse TV).
Four years ago, much attention was given to the hybrid programming employed by the DNC out of necessity. This week we'll see just how tailored the messaging is for different platforms, and which platforms attract the most viewers and truly extend the event's reach. If successful, the convention could lead to a renewed conversation — with new data — around the significance of multichannel events.