How extraordinary. They even had typewriters in the news room! I remember that announcer’s voice. He used to be the announcer way back to the Apollo moon mission days I think.
Anyway, I can’t quite recall 1980 but I think by 1984 most the networks switched to red for the Repubs and blue for the Dems. In 1976 it was the other way around. I suspect the got complaints for calling Democrats “reds” but it sure was accurate anyway!
My favorite election reaction from the press was in 1994. The reporters were shocked and horrified by the Republicans taking winning both the House and Senate.