Obama’s Jan. 20 inauguration is scheduled to hit big screens in 27 theaters around the country.
MSNBC struck a deal with Screenvision, the world’s leading cinema advertising company, to air its inaugural coverage in movie theaters in 21 markets.
The news channel is distributing free tickets through its events website to see the inauguration and parade.
According to HollywoodReporter.com, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews and other MSNBC and NBC personalities are scheduled to appear in the inauguration coverage. Beginning in the second quarter, the broadcast will feature high-definition clarity.
“It’ll look great,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin told the website. “We’re thrilled about it.”
The channel began talks with Screenvision last year about broadcasting the coverage in theaters. The cinema company has also shown New York Mets baseball games, operas and other events in the past.
Executive Vice President of exhibitor relations Darryl Schaffer said Screenvision is capable of airing the coverage at 200 locations, but MSNBC chose to use only 27.
“We want to reach people we’ve never reached before,” Griffin said. “We’re going to do numerous things like that to get our name out there. Ubiquity is the name of the game in 2009.”
Obama’s inauguration is expected to be a massive event, with an estimated 2 million people in attendance.
CNN and Facebook have also collaborated to bring Inauguration Day coverage to those who are not able to attend the event. CNN will broadcast the event on its website while Facebook will enable viewers to simultaneously comment on coverage.
CBS, Fox, and the New York Times will also stream live video of the inauguration, and an official Inaugural YouTube group is already posting pre-inauguration videos.
The insanity of net-zero carbon emissions
Patrice Lewis