How is this news?

Except they did not call Ohio four hours before the polls closed in Ohio. They called California quite explictly. They also subsequently called Texas for Romney and a few other states before they closed. (Which they did not state four hours out that they had called Texas for Romoney. I believe they waited until the first polling stations closed in on the east coast before doing that. At a time when USA networks had zero-zero, they had something like 100 eletorcal college votes already shown on their map.) The states that were tighter they called later. In fact, USA networks were calling states before the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was calling the close races as they wanted to wait to be sure they were a bit more accurate. Colorado I think they called about 15 minutes after the USA networks.

If for some reason there had been a majoe screw up in the polling, which is possible if you look at Gore v Bush, it would have made national news over here. Also, there are broader issues that the Australian courts have been looking at that might have implications for such coverage. There used to be media blackouts for fair trial guarentees. Thus, a court case in Victoria, they could publish news stories about in New South Wales but not in Victoria. (Underbelly is an Australian television show that had such restrictions.) My understanding is the courts are beginning to think more nationally about these things because the internet means the sharing of news is not limited to a local geagraphic area. Taken broadly: Australian coverage of this topic, given the right social media audience, could have potentially surpressed the Romney vote in California and have the carry on effect of changing the results on the local level for local races. That is why USA networks do not report on who a state has gone for before the polls have closed.

Could this have been explained better? Yes, but I attempted to get it published prior to the polls closing in California.