CBS TELEVISION STATIONS TO DEBUT AR/VR ELECTION CENTERS ACROSS ITS OWNED STATIONS NATIONWIDE, NOV. 3

Nationwide Deployment of Immersive Election Coverage Will Help Viewers Better Understand Local Races, Results and Issues Through Interactive Visual Storytelling

Photo Credit: CBS Television Stations

Images of the Election Center Here

Editor's Note: These images are test data only

SKIM (Story, Key Facts, Impact, More Below)

• Story - CBS Television Stations (CBS Stations) will debut augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) election centers across all 15 of its owned-and-operated television stations on Nov. 3, bringing immersive visual storytelling, interactive data analysis and real-time election results to coverage of the 2026 midterm general election.

• Key Facts - CBS Stations is the only station group in the U.S. with AR/VR technology-driven news studios. Powered by the Company's proprietary AR/VR platform, the election centers will enable journalists in 15 markets to explain races, ballot measures, voter trends and election results through three-dimensional graphics, interactive maps, virtual environments and dynamic data visualizations.

• Impact - The virtual election centers will help viewers better understand local election results by providing context, analysis and visual explanations that make complex political data easier to understand and more engaging.

• More Below - The full release includes details about the Nov. 3 debut of the AR/VR election centers, the expansion of CBS Stations' proprietary AR/VR technology platform, executive quote from Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Television Stations, and answers to common questions about the technology.

LOS ANGELES - Nov. 2, 2026 - CBS Television Stations (CBS Stations) will debut augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) election centers at all 15 of its owned-and-operated television stations on Nov. 3, bringing immersive visual storytelling, interactive data analysis and real-time election results of the 2026 midterm general election. Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Stations, announced the debut today.

CBS Stations is the only television station group in the United States with AR/VR technology-driven news studios. Built on the Company's proprietary AR/VR technology platform, the virtual election centers enable journalists to explain races, ballot measures, voter trends and results through immersive three-dimensional graphics, interactive maps, virtual environments and dynamic data visualizations.

CBS Stations has expanded its AR/VR technology in weather, news and sports coverage since 2023, when CBS Bay Area's KPIX launched the group's first AR/VR news studio. The election centers are the latest use of the technology to give viewers context and clarity.

"Elections can be complex, and our responsibility as journalists is not only to report the results but also to help viewers understand what those results mean for their neighborhood, county and state," said Mitchell. "Our AR/VR election centers combine innovative storytelling with the deep local knowledge of our news teams, helping audiences better understand the races, issues and outcomes that matter most where they live."

Coverage of the election will be available across CBS local broadcasts, online at cbsnews.com/cbslocal/, and on streaming and digital platforms, including Paramount+, Pluto TV, and CBS News 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions About CBS Television Stations' AR/VR Technology

Question: What is CBS Stations announcing?

Answer: CBS Stations will debut AR/VR election centers at all 15 of its owned-and-operated television stations on Nov. 3 for coverage of the 2026 midterm general election. The virtual election centers use CBS Stations' proprietary AR/VR technology platform, which also supports weather, news and sports coverage, to help journalists explain complex information through interactive visual environments.

Question: What will viewers see in the AR/VR election centers?

Answer: Journalists will navigate immersive election environments and explain races, ballot measures, voter trends and results through immersive three-dimensional graphics, interactive maps, virtual environments and dynamic data visualizations.

Question: What is the primary benefit for viewers?

Answer: AR/VR helps viewers better understand stories by making information more visual, immersive and accessible. The technology enhances storytelling while providing greater clarity, context and engagement.

Question: What does AR/VR stand for?

Answer: AR/VR stands for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The technology places journalists and meteorologists inside digitally created environments, graphics and visualizations that appear to exist within the studio.

Question: Why is CBS Stations investing in AR/VR technology?

Answer: The initiative reflects CBS Stations' ongoing investment in local journalism, innovation and audience engagement. The technology helps journalists provide greater context, improve understanding and enhance storytelling across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms.

Question: Why does AR/VR matter? I just want to watch my regular news.

Answer: AR/VR is a storytelling tool that supports journalism. It allows meteorologists, anchors and reporters to visually explain weather events, news stories and community issues in ways that help viewers better understand complex information. The reporting remains the same; the technology simply provides additional context and visual explanation.

Question: Who developed the technology?

Answer: The AR/VR initiative was pioneered within CBS Stations. The original framework and operational blueprint were developed internally at CBS Bay Area (KPIX-TV) and were later scaled across the station group. The initiative is led by Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Television Stations.

About CBS Television Stations

CBS Television Stations (CBS Stations), part of Skydance TV, a flagship division of Skydance Corporation (NYSE: SKYD), is a leading multiplatform local media organization that owns and operates 27 television stations in 17 major U.S. markets, including duopolies and independent stations, one of the largest owned-station footprints in local media. The stations reach approximately 37% of U.S. television households. The station group produces more than 41,000 hours of live local news annually across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms.

CBS Stations is the only U.S. television station group with augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) news studios, operating more than 20,000 square feet of studio space in 15 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver, Miami, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

CBS Stations provides news and information for the CBS Television Network, Paramount+, Pluto TV, digital platforms and CBS News 24/7.

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Media contact:

Elita Fielder Adjei, SVP, Communications

CBS Television Stations

[email protected]