(Jake Turcotte)
Want to watch Obama’s opening inaugural festivities? Better get HBO
By Jimmy Orr | 01.07.09
Hey, the Sopranos were wildly successful. Why not the Obamas?
Well, that’s kinda what’s happening. Sorta.
HBO
HBO has secured the rights to carry the opening ceremonies of the Barack Obama inaugural-palooza beginning on January 18.
Remember the 30 minute infomercial of Barack Obama last October? Just think of this programming extravaganza as the infomercial gone wild (without the bikinis). It’s three times more Obama. 90 minutes in fact.
This doesn’t mean that all 90 minutes will be non-stop Barack Obama, but the President-elect and the VP-elect (Joe Biden, by the way) are planning to attend — which is a good thing.
Who’s coming?
So how do you fill all 90 minutes of the celebratory opener? The details are still slight, but HBO is promising a bunch of big-time celebs for our viewing entertainment.
“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 Bill Nelson, Chairman & CEO, Home Box Office. “HBO is proud to work with all of our distributors to make this event accessible to as many citizens as possible.”
But who’s coming? Folks on the inside are tight-lipped about it. But People magazine is reporting that Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen have been approached.
Buttah
And what would the inaugural be without Barbra Streisand? After all, she and Obama were just like buttah last September when she held dual fundraisers for him to the tune of $9 million.
People mag says Barbra’s been “approached” as well.
Not sayin’
The Obama folks aren’t giving too many details either on who the presumed a-lister entertainers are yet. Just the typical stuff you’d expect to hear.
“The Presidential Inaugural Committee is committed to staging an Opening Celebration that reflects the best of our nation, and we are pleased that millions of people across the country will be able to share in this historic experience,” Emmett Beliveau, executive director of the inaugural committee, said in a statement.
No HBO?
For those who don’t have HBO, there’s good news –they’re giving away their signal for free. But you gotta have cable or satellite. If you don’t, you’re out of luck. And that’s got a lot of people in the blogosphere not very happy.
Take Lisa Derrick over at La Figa. She’s not digging the HBO arrangement noting that up to 20 million people may be unable to view the spectacle.
“So much for inclusion,” Derrick writes. “Millions of viewers will be left unable to watch the Opening Celebration for the 56th Presidential Inaugural.”
Derrick calls the above HBO statement from Bill Nelson “repulsive”.
If enough people are repulsed perhaps the Obama team and HBO can find a way to get the signal to those people who still get TV the old-fashioned way. We’re guessing it’ll happen.
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2. laura | 01.07.09
I will be so upset if I can’t watch the inauguration because I don’t have cable. That’s just not fair. Some things should be available to everyone and this is one of them.
3. Corin Ramos | 01.08.09
In the spirit of President-elect Obama’s message of inclusion, Ms. Derrick is welcome to watch the inauguration at my house. She sounds like she would be the life of the party. Bring your own cheetos, please.
4. DieGo2SHAE | 01.08.09
People that don’t have cable or satellite need to get with the program. I’m sorry, but if you’re sitting around watching TV and can’t afford cable or satellite then you don’t deserve this program 
lol, just kidding. I’m sure someone will be streaming it on the internet as with every Pay-Per-View program ever 
5. Geo | 01.08.09
Laura, the Inauguaration itself *will* be on broadcast TV. This is basically a party/concert that takes place a few days earlier.
6. thomas | 01.08.09
Tyler…
I’d guess most people that don’t have cable probably don’t have internet access either
7. bob | 01.08.09
actually, i don’t have cable or satellite *because* i have premium internet access, and i watch most shows online. that being said, i really don’t need to watch a pep rally. the inauguration itself will be enough for me. however, it would be kind of hbo to let those that do wish to see it have an alternate method for being able to do so.
8. Steve | 01.08.09
This article, particularly the photo, is strikingly disingenuous. The *inauguration* on the 20th will be broadcast on the major networks. A special even on the 18th, two days before the inauguration, will only be on HBO. The photo reinforces the incorrect implication that the inauguration broadcast will be on HBO. Shame on CSM for running this story this way.
9. 2LB | 01.13.09
Too funny…especially in light of the fact that Obama is attempting to obtain a ceast and desist action against the DTV Conversion so “some folks” can have mainstream television!
Choosing HBO was an extremely elitist action since consumers need to subscribe to acquire access to the network.
Bottom line…it doesn’t come down to the people. It comes down to the dollar.
10. Pinknight78 | 01.14.09
I have HBO and can’t wait…. I am going to have some friends over to watch it with us and have a party ;~) I know some of my friends don’t have cable, so I just was thinking that it would be nice to make a night out of it…. it will be fun can’t wait ;~)
11. Diego2daAtl-Natasha | 01.15.09
Hey stop ragging on the folks w/out cable! You know, not having cable some times has nothing to do with not being able to “afford it”. I didn’t have cable (by choice) for 4 years - a lot of what’s on tv is garbage.
With my antenna I got what I needed: local news & quality children’s shows through public broadcasting for my daughter. The only thing I missed was HGTV and I frequented their website nightly- lol. With the digital transition coming up I just got cable for the 1st time in years (no HBO) - and I still think it’s a rip off. I basically only watch 3 stations - HGTV (yay!), CNN, and CBS. I make a good salary but I never understood why I would give $60/month away to a cable company when I only utilize 3 of the 150 stations they demand you have in their “package”. (Especially when I can get them free w/ an antenna!) But I’ve given in… the world is “transitioning” - didn’t wanna get left behind this time. 
LOL
12. 6. | 01.18.09
Stop crying hippies! Thank God HBO did half country a huge favor. Who cares about his inauguration? It is over the top!! Too much already!!! He is not a king, he is president
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Tyler E. | 01.07.09
We need a petition… HBO should at least stream it.