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When a breaking news story occurs that is deemed to be urgent enough to interrupt regular non-news programming on national television, it may be announced in a Newsflash or Special Report graphic. The graphic may also include a distinctive music cue and a countdown sequence to allow network affiliates to switch over to the breaking news feed, if they are not already on it. In the past, breaking news events that warranted an interruption of programming were only broadcast in the event of a severe weather threat or an exceptionally important story such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
