M-Net has secured the rights to broadcast the opening celebration of President Barack Obama’s inauguration from HBO which holds the international rights to the opening ceremony which takes place on Tuesday, 20 January.
The ceremony which includes a concert will be seen in Asia, Central Europe and Latin America. Besides M-Net in Africa, a slate of other broadcasters have picked up the event, including SBS in Australia, France Telecom, HOT in Israel, SKY Italia and WOWOW in Japan.
Performances are expected from Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and U2, among others. Plus, several celebrities will be reading historical passages, among them Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Jack Black and Denzel Washington.
