HBO lands rights to inaugural ceremony

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: Yahoo News

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – HBO will kick off coverage of Inauguration Week with an exclusive Sunday, January 18, telecast of the star-studded opening ceremony, two days before the saturation coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration begins in earnest.

In 1993, HBO paid $1.5 million to the Presidential Inaugural Committee to televise Bill Clinton's kickoff from the Lincoln Memorial, something that annoyed non-HBO subscribers who weren't able to watch the concert by Bob Dylan and Diana Ross.

This time around, HBO -- which has been awarded the rights for an undisclosed sum -- is planning to offer the event free to cable and satellite subscribers, regardless of whether they have the pay channel. The entertainment lineup for the event, which may also be streamed, hasn't yet been announced, but both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden are scheduled to attend.

"(HBO's) proven track record as a leader in television will help ensure an event that reflects President-elect Obama's commitment to holding an inauguration that is open, accessible and reflects America's spirit of unity," inaugural committee executive director Emmett S. Beliveau said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090107/tv_nm/us_inauguration_2

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Workers construct the reviewing stand which will be used by President-elect Barack Obama and other dignitaries to view his inauguration parade on January 20, 2009, outside the White House in Washington November 18, 2008. (Jason Reed/Reuters)





Workers put bulletproof glass on President-elect Barack Obama's Inaugural Reviewing Stand on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

[caseycoon]

1. Ah yes....

The Inauguration for all Americans!
(Except those who do not have cable & subscribe to HBO.)
I think that sucks, but hey, I live in the boonies where cable service is unavailable so what do I know?

[Shardik]

2. While I am happy that I can see it, I can sure understand where you're coming from.

I would have hoped that a broadcast network would have picked it up.

I'll bet you will be able to find it streaming on the internet. (Hope)

[alfredo]

20. CSPAN most likely

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Who knows, maybe HBO will get in the spirit of things and stream the broadcast on the Web

I currently don't have cable / HBO either, and HBO certainly has the technology to do a live Webcast...it's just a matter of whether they'll choose to do one.

[LynneSin]

6. They are trying to set it up to broadcast it on the web

It’s Not TV, It’s HBO: Cable Network to Air Inaugural Festivities
Amy Chozick and Rebecca Dana report on the inauguration.

The marquis event of an extravaganza being billed as the “people’s inauguration,” will be aired exclusively on HBO, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced today.

The inauguration tapped HBO to televise 90-minutes of commercial-free footage of the “Opening Celebration” at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, Jan. 18. The event, which both President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden plan to attend is designed to give Americans across the country access to one of the main inaugural events.

The HBO deal will make the celebration accessible on an open signal, which means anyone with cable or satellite service will be able to view the festivities for free. But the exclusive arrangement could leave out millions of Americans who are not cable or satellite subscribers.

An HBO executive said they are looking into streaming the event online for those viewers who do not have cable.

[caseycoon]

9. If they stream it online

I will be able to get it. Out here is the woods we FINALLY got DSL this year. I couldn't even get a dish because of all the trees! LOL!
BUT what about all the peeps who can't watch it? So, I still think it sucks. Oh well....

[damntexdem]

19. They COULD make it available to broadcast TV.

[thunder rising]

4. Agreed! This is a tax. I donated to the campaign and still must buy cable or sat to see ceremony

[LynneSin]

7. Ok please read more about it before you rant

It's only for the opening inauguration on the 18th (the big day is the 20th).

And HBO is working to make the broadcast available via the web too.

PLUS with HBO - you don't have to worry about all those annoying commericials. I for one look forward to watching the event without constant commericial interruptions

[guitar man]

8. I doubt you'll have to buy cable to see the ceremony

I highly doubt HBO was able to secure exclusive rights to the ceremony, it just sounds like they are going to run a lot of extra coverage and specials from what the article says.

[LynneSin]

10. It's not for the ceremony it's for the event on the 18th at the Lincoln

Hell C-Span will probably have inauguration coverage of him being sworn in.

[guitar man]

14. thanks

I caught that on the re-read, I scanned it a bit too quickly on the first read.

It sounds like HBO is being pretty stand up about it actually:

This time around, HBO -- which has been awarded the rights for an undisclosed sum -- is planning to offer the event free to cable and satellite subscribers, regardless of whether they have the pay channel....

sounds like they are planning to turn on HBO for all cable/sat subscribers for the event.

[LynneSin]

16. I didn't see that part

that's nice. HBO does a good job on their events and with them you know there won't be annoying commericial interruptions

[thunder rising]

5. dup

[Bake]

13. Read the article. They will make it available to all cable subscribers

Regardless of whether they are HBO subscribers.

I know, it still sucks, but not as bad as it could be.

Bake

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. Democracy moves to pay-per-view

If you cannot afford premium cable channels, you aren't a real American.

[LynneSin]

12. BEFORE YOU RANT PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE!!!

It's not for the swearing in ceremony, it's for the opening event at the Lincoln on the 18th - 2 days before the swearing-in.

HBO is attempting to get it online but even still if you have some form of cable you can always convince the cable company to give you HBO for free as a new sign-up (they usually have 2-3 months free).

Every major news network will be covering the swearing in ceremony.

[NashVegas]

15. Man, It Would Be So Sweet To Watch an Inauguration

And not hear idiot announcers go on about the "peaceful transition of power." The last two turned out to be anything but.

[LynneSin]

17. It's not going to be for the swearing in ceremony

but might I recommend CSpan if you want to watch the event and NOT the annoying announcers.

[sabra]

18. Update: HBO to Broadcast Obama Inaugural Ceremony for Free

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20250570,00.html

HBO will broadcast Barack Obama's inaugural ceremonies on Jan. 18 from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Variety reports.

The cable network will broadcast the event on an open signal, which means that any viewer with cable or satellite may tune in to the ceremony for free.

No entertainment has been confirmed – though Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand are reportedly among the performers who have been approached for the occasion.

Aretha Franklin has already been confirmed to sing at Obama's swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20. She will be joined at the program by Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma. – Brian Orloff"]