HBO To Televise Obama Inauguration Event
Premium Service Working With Operators For Free Preview Of Jan. 18 Opening Celebration
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 1/7/2009 6:46:00 AM
Home Box Office will kick off the upcoming presidential inauguration festivities with the airing of the opening celebration Jan. 18, which it will offer to all cable subscribers.
The pay-TV service is working with operators and satellite distributors to offer for free the opening celebration for the 56th presidential inaugural, which is expected to feature some of the biggest acts in the world of entertainment, according to the network.
President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice Presidential-elect Joe Biden will both attend the free event.
"We are honored to be broadcasting an event of this national significance featuring some of the leading talent from the music and entertainment industry," said HBO chairman and CEO Bill Nelson in a statement. "HBO is proud to work with all of our distributors to make this event accessible to as many citizens as possible."
PIC executive director Emmett Beliveau said in a statement that HBO’s track record as a television leader “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.”
Home Box Office will kick off the upcoming presidential inauguration festivities with the airing of the opening celebration Jan. 18, which it will offer to all cable subscribers.
