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Until the advent of 24-hour news networks, major broadcasters would interrupt non-news programming—or sometimes even regularly scheduled network newscasts—if there was breaking news that required immediate, national coverage. In those cases, a special graphic would appear on the screen, often with a distinctive music cue and a countdown sequence to notify affiliates to switch over to the network feed. A news anchor then welcomes viewers to the special report and begins covering the developing story. Occasionally, lower thirds or other graphics may be altered to convey a sense of urgency. (See Newsflash, Special Report, and Breaking News for more information.)
