Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony on January 20 will be covered live by CBS News' Katie Couric and HBO will do the honor to kick off the opening celebration.
- Jan 7, 2009
AceShowbiz - The world is counting down to the inauguration of U.S. 44th president, Barack Obama and to cover live the historical moment on Tuesday, January 20 is Katie Couric from CBS News. The TV program will launch a comprehensive broadcast and online coverage of the day, including the ceremonies and interviews plus analysis from the CBS News Inauguration Team.
The inauguration will take place at West Front of the Capitol starting at 10.00 A.M. ET and ending 5.00 P.M. that day. Additionally, Couric will work extra hour for a one-hour primetime special called "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama" that airs live at 9.00 P.M. ET. Prior to this, CBS will also anticipate the moment by having a special edition of "Face the Nation" with Bob Schieffer on Sunday, January 18.
CBS are not the only major network to feature the presidential coverage. HBO have been officially tapped by The Presidential Inaugural Committee to exclusively televise the opening celebration of the inauguration on Sunday, January 18 at Lincoln Memorial. Both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden are expected to attend the free event.
During the 90-minute event, HBO have agreed not to give any commercial interruption and allow other media to cover. In 1993 HBO paid $1.5 million to cover the inaugural of Bill Clinton but the sum that they pay this time is not disclosed.
