I guess I'm showing my age, but back when the Soviets were losing Politburo members right and left, the regular programming would go off the air and they would play solemn music for hours before they finally worked themselves up to the announcement of somebody's death . . .
I remember in the early 80's. Granted I was 11 or 12. But I remember when Breshnev, chernenko and whatever the other guys name was. Actually i think he was between Breshnev and Chernenko. Andropov? Perhaps. Any way I remember that it seemd the leader was dead for a t least a solid day or 2 before we knew.