Michael Jackson’s memorial service today (1:00 pm ET) will be carried live on CNN, HLN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, E!, TV One, NBC and ABC. CBS is opting for a primetime special. ABC News Radio and CNN Radio have also announced plans to make live coverage of the memorial service available to their affiliates.
NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “Good Morning America” and CBS’ “The Early Show” begin the day with heavy coverage of the coming memorial service in Los Angeles. The cable news outlets will no doubt be heavy with Jackson coverage throughout the day.
For the actual service, CNN’s coverage will be anchored by Anderson Cooper, Larry King, don Lemon and Soledad O’Brien in LA, with Campbell Brown and Roland Martin in New York. Sister NLN’s coverage will be anchored by Robin Meade, AJ Hammer and Jane Velez-Mitchell and CNN en Espanol by Juan Carlos Arciniegas. CNN also said there will be a live broadcast for its radio affiliates.
Shepard Smith is anchoring for Fox News Channel, with a separate feed being offered to Fox Television affiliates anchored by Megyn Kelly. MSNBC’s live broadcast will be anchored by Chris Jansing. TV One’s coverage will be co-anchored by veteran journalists Art Fennell and Jacque Reid.
All three primary network news anchors will be in LA. Brian Williams will anchor the live broadcast of the memorial service for NBC and Charlie Gibson for ABC. Katie Couric will be at the Staples Center, where the memorial service will take place, and anchor a special CBS News “48 Hours” report, “Michael Jackson: The Last Dance,” airing 10-11 pm ET/PT.
ABC News Radio is providing live anchored coverage from 1:00 pm ET until approximately 3:00 pm, depending on exactly how long the service lasts. The broadcast will be anchored by ABC News Radio’s Aaron Katersky and Andrea Dresdale, along wth Alan Light of Rolling Stone. A one-hour special, “Remembering Michael Jackson,” wrapping up the days events will air at 7:06 pm ET, also anchored by Katersky.
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