PBS America (formerly known as PBS UK) has unveiled its plans for what has been described as “the most extensive coverage of the US presidential election on British television.” The broadcaster will be airing 104 hours of election themed programming during the eight week run-up to the election, showcasing PBS’s slate of election-focussed programming for the very first time in the UK.

PBS America will show the full presidential and vice-presidential debates (in prime time, the day after they take place in the US), with 30 minutes of post debate analysis from journalists Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff; Frontline’s award winning The Choice, which, each presidential election cycle, offers an a-politcal look at the two candidates battling out to become president; live coverage on the night of the election which will be anchored by Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff, two veteran political journalists who have covereed up to 10 previous elections; daily updates on the election via PBS Newshour; and a number of presidential biographies and frontline investigations which will show how previous presidents have fared, frame the stakes of the election and the challenges both candidates face.

“There’s got to be a place for people to go that’s safe, where they know they’re going to be able to make up their own mind,” says Gwen Ifill, co-anchor of PBS’s Election 2012 coverage. “I’ve worked in newspapers. I’ve worked in commercial television. I’m now in public television. And I know that I’m in the right place… to tell the story.”

Below Is The Air Dates For PBS America’s Main Election Themed Programming:

Thursday, October 4th

9pm – First Presidential Debate

Friday, October 12th

9pm – Vice-Presidential Debate

Wednesday, October 17th

9pm – Second Presidential Debate

Friday, October 19th

9pm – Frontline – The Choice 2012

Tuesday, October 23rd

9pm – Third Presidential Debate

Tuesday – November 6th

11pm – Election Night: Live From America