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Breaking news is a segment of a broadcast that interrupts regular non-news programming, or a scheduled network newscast, to cover urgent current events. This format is most common on 24-hour news channels, but was also used in the past by some conventional stations with live cut-ins during severe weather or breaking political events. The break is usually preceded by a countdown sequence on the network feed, which alerts affiliated stations to be ready for the interruption. Often, the breaking news event is covered through the use of a graphic accompanied by an appropriate music cue. This graphic is also known as a newsflash or special report.
