America has voted and election fever has faded, but Eurovision is steeling itself for the second wave – the inauguration of Barack Obama, on January 21.

The elections - which garnered worldwide interest - were an unrelenting four-day Eurovision operation that encompassed six states plus Washington, DC.

EBU Members made exhaustive use of Eurovision’s roster of services, and the wrap-up figures are staggering: 1,150 transmissions totalling 39,000 minutes on 50 circuits for 95 networks.

Bill Dunlop, President and CEO of Eurovision Americas, said: “With the polls indicating a very tight finish, interest in the election grew dramatically in the final weeks. Eurovision was able to meet the needs of major broadcasters from around the world with a combination of long-term planning – through which we had secured the best presenting positions in Washington – and quick reaction once the venues in Chicago and Boston became known. Eurovision teams at all locations worked extremely long hours in very stressful conditions. The success of this event is a tribute to their skill and commitment.”

Several Members used dedicated fibres, and others placed extensive bookings to allow anchoring from Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles, and reporting from Chicago, Boston, Ohio and Florida.

Almost a year in advance of the election Eurovision had locked up key rooftop positions overlooking the White House. And correspondents went live from Eurovision points inside the election night rallies of both camps in Chicago and Boston.

In addition, satellite trucks in Columbus and Tallahassee provided feeds from the swing states of Ohio and Florida.

The BBC was the biggest single user of the Washington positions, and on Wednesday all five British terrestrial networks – BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Five – used Eurovision’S rooftops and studios for their election coverage. Networks from many other countries presented their main evening news programmes from the same locations.

The 24-hour planning desk and Technical Operations Center (TOC) in Washington were kept on their toes with a constant stream of bookings, while the news desk worked round-the-clock filtering election footage for the Geneva-based Eurovision News Exchange and live feeds.

Eurovision Americas, Inc. (EAI) is now finalising plans for the presidential inauguration on January 21, having already sealed the choicest presenting spots.

Eurovision will occupy the roof of the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue, which will give Members a panoramic view of the inauguration ceremony at the Capitol as well as stand-up positions next to the street where the presidential motorcade will pass.