Election TV was a hi-tech extravaganza with presenters and experts suspended in virtual reality as broadcasters deployed video graphics more usually seen in Hollywood blockbusters.
Peter Snow's Swingometer had to compete with all manner of animated gimmicks as the main TV stations brought a touch of the movies to the climax of the 2001 poll.
The BBC, ITN and Sky News all boasted computer wizardry bringing to life the battle for Westminster.
ITN's team, led by Jonathan Dimbleby, reported from a specially built election set constructed over two floors in the atrium of its London head quarters.
Presenter Dermot Murnaghan "floated" around in what is claimed to be Europe's largest virtual reality studio, transporting him from a lifelike 3D model of the House of Commons one moment to a giant map of Britain the next as he analysed results.
Fellow presenter Katie Derham did the same thing for real, flying by aircraft from Edinburgh to Manchester, then on to Birmingham and London, to gauge the mood of voters throughout the night.
Steve Anderson, ITV controller of news, said it was "the most amazing box of video tricks I've ever seen on television".
Sky News also offered viewers a virtual reality experience. Political editor Adam Boulton and his panel sat at what Sky calls an "intelligent table", from which virtual 3D graphs of the latest results appeared.
Sky presenter Martin Stanford spent most of the night in a "virtual 3D graphics gym" with graphs and charts showing how the House of Commons will be made up.
Meanwhile, Mr Boulton, borrowing a technique honed by Sky's football pundits, used an electronic pen to scribble arrows on the screen to explain the numbers.
The BBC's election night coverage was more traditional, with David Dimbleby heading a line-up that included Jeremy Paxman, Fiona Bruce, Peter Snow and political editor Andrew Marr.
In common with the other broadcasters, the BBC had reporters around the country, with John Sopel in Mr Blair's constituency, Huw Edwards with Mr William Hague and Sally Magnusson with Mr Charles Kennedy.
The fortunes of political figures such as Mr Peter Mandelson, Mr Kenneth Clarke and Mr Boris Johnson were also followed.
Viewers with digital televisions had access to extra services.
They were able to call up dynamic results services - including the BBC's Swingometer - and view individual constituency results and analyses, as well as background and trend turnouts.
BBC Radio 4 and 5 Live joined forces for the night, led by Today programme presenter James Naughtie.
And for the first time, the Internet became a rich source of election result information, with www.bbc.co.uk, itvelection.co.uk and www.sky.com/news all offering in-depth coverage and background.
For a light-hearted view of the poll, Channel 5 offered viewers Politicians Behaving Badly, complete with clips showing the antics of elected representatives the world over.
Hosted by US talk show host Jerry Springer, the show featured PR guru Max Clifford analysing the results as they came in.
For those wanting to avoid the election altogether, Channel 4's schedule offered normal week night fare, including Big Brother at 10 p.m.