Where and how to watch Saturday’s federal election coverage
Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here.
After what seems like an eternity, the 2025 federal election is, thankfully, mercifully, coming to an end this weekend. The campaign trail has taken a significant toll on all of us: ordinary people, politicians, and, most importantly, podcasters.
We’ve bickered over the price of eggs, wondered out loud who has Trump’s phone number, and been subject to the word “corflute” far too many times. But after more than five weeks of campaigning, the finish line is in sight.
However, before we learn who will become our next prime minister, Australians must pay one final price: election day TV coverage.
Australia decides… where to watch the 2025 federal election.Credit: Artwork by Matt Willis
Essentially the Super Bowl for people who don’t like sport, election day TV is long and laborious, with occasional flashes of excitement. Fortunately, TV networks do their best to distract us from this by curating a bunch of semi-familiar faces in a flashy new studio where they will spend far too much time unpacking a simple question (“So what do you think is happening in Kooyong?”)
If you’re even remotely engaged in this election (and you should be!), here’s what each channel is offering to help you choose who will get your viewing vote.
Channel Nine, Australia Decides
Are you after comprehensive, up-to-the-minute results and expert analysis on election day? Well, that’s what Nine (publisher of this masthead) is promising with its coverage, which is dramatically titled Australia Decides. (Side note: Australia Decides is also what Seven, Ten and Sky News have called their coverage, probably because no one could decide on a better name.)
The network begins its rolling coverage proper at 5pm, anchored by Peter Overton and Ally Langdon, while Nine’s political editor, Charles Croucher, will also be on hand to offer analysis.
Meanwhile, Sarah Abo will be with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s camp, while Karl Stefanovic will be embedded with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s camp.
Ally Langdon and Peter Overton will head up Nine’s election day coverage.
Unique selling point: The return of Christopher “I fixed it, I’m a fixer” Pyne. Safe to say Australian politics is a poorer place without Pyne’s memorable one-liners, so it’s a coup that Nine will have him on the desk.
Not in front of a TV to watch it all unfold? Follow our live federal election coverage and expert analysis here. And use our interactive map to find your electorate and candidates – and to help you see how close the election will be in your area.
Network Ten, Australia Decides
Once again, Sandra Sully, she of the golden tonsils, has been entrusted to helm Ten’s coverage alongside national affairs editor Hugh Riminton and network political editor Ashleigh Raper.
Joining the Ten anchors will be a revolving door of political heavy-hitters, with Ten banking on fireworks between teal independent Kylea Tink MP, Liberal Senator Dave Sharma, Senator Jacqui Lambie and the Nationals’ David Littleproud.
Clancy Overell and Errol Parker of the Betoota Advocate will help Ten connect to the all-important “young demographic”.
Unique selling point: Ten has historically been the free-to-air network that loves The Youth™, so they’re smart to rope in The Betoota Advocate’s Errol Parker and Clancy Overell to join the broadcast live from Betoota HQ.
Channel Seven, Australia Decides
We love a confident broadcaster, and before even a vote has been cast, Channel Seven is making a huge call: they’re promising to call the election first. According to Seven’s press release, they will utilise “cutting-edge technology” to deliver up-to-the-minute results.
Sadly, this doesn’t refer to the Cash Cow in a cupboard tallying ballots. Instead, Seven will use the 7NEWS Power Board, a state-of-the-art, touch-screen technology made famous by CNN’s John King during the most recent US presidential election. The Power Board can fast-track pre-poll and postal votes, providing viewers with an early indication of how the public is leaning.
CNN’s chief national correspondent John King using the “Screen of Dreams” that Channel Seven will employ on election night.
Veteran reporters Michael Usher and Natalie Barr will steer the ship alongside veteran 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley.
Unique selling point: Seven has booked Clive Palmer to appear on air, so someone can ask him on national TV to stop sending so many text messages.
SBS
While other networks focus on bells and whistles, SBS is doing what it does best: Solid But Sensible. Their coverage will begin at 6.30pm, anchored by World News presenter Janice Petersen, with chief political correspondent Anna Henderson as featured guest.
Unique selling point: NITV coverage will focus on the Northern Territory as Australia’s most significant Indigenous constituency and interview First Nations voters at polling booths around the country.
Sky News, Australia Decides
For those who can’t get enough of early polling numbers, Sky News has you covered from sunup to sundown. Things kick off at 6am with Peter Stefanovic hosting First Edition: Australia Decides, then continue to the evening.
Kieran Gilbert will host Sky’s evening coverage alongside a panel that includes Peta Credlin, Andrew Clennell, Chris Uhlmann, Murray Watt, Joel Fitzgibbon and Sky News chief election analyst Tom Connell. Expect regular crosses to Sharri Markson and Paul Murray at Liberal HQ and Chris Kenny and Laura Jayes at Labor HQ, providing on-the-ground reactions as results come in.
Barnaby Joyce keeps talking on the phone after falling off a planter box last year.Credit: Nine
Unique selling point: Barnaby Joyce is joining Sky’s coverage, which means something hilarious is likely.
ABC, Australia Votes
Props to ABC for slightly altering the name of their coverage and opting for Australia Votes instead of Australia Decides. And while Australia will indeed be voting, Australia will also be crying (#AustraliaCries), with analyst Antony Green crunching the numbers for the final time after announcing his retirement from the role following more than three decades of elections.
This will be Antony Green’s last election broadcast.Credit: Peter Rae
Primary coverage starts at 6pm, and it’s an all-star line-up, like the Avengers of Ultimo.
We’re talking David Speers, Sarah Ferguson, Annabel Crabb and Laura Tingle, along with Bridget Brennan, who will interview candidates from across the country. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Coalition senator James McGrath will also provide insights throughout the night.
Unique selling point: Jeremy Fernandez will utilise the “Big Board” to offer audiences a clearer perspective on the results and analyse trends in the vote with Casey Briggs.
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