Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer to Lead ABC News Royal Wedding Coverage

By Alex Weprin 

ABC News has slated its coverage plans for the upcoming Royal Wedding. Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer will lead the network’s coverage, which includes almost 20 hours on ABC, in addition to other platforms.

On Friday, Walters and Sawyer will anchor live starting at 4 AM ET, joined by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts, who will be anchoring from London all week.

Contributors to the broadcast will include: Newsweek/Daily Beast editor Tina Brown, former Royal press secretary Colleen Harris, Royal Historian Robert Lacey; and Royal Editor for the Sun Newspaper, Duncan Larcombe. Also appearing will be one of Princess Diana’s bridesmaids, India Hicks.

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“ABC World News” will be broadcast from London Wednesday, April 27 to Friday April 29, while Cynthia McFadden anchors “Nightline” from London all week.

Even Disney Channel is getting into the game, with Juju Chang hosting a short form series about the Royal Wedding for kids all week long.

Much more information, including where to watch online, after the jump.

ABC News to Provide VIEWERS AN ALL-ACCESS PASS TO THE ROYAL WEDDING

Wedding Day Coverage Anchored by Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters on the

ABC Television Network Will also be Live-Streamed on ABCNews.com, ABC News’ iPad and

iPhone Applications, as well as Facebook, Yahoo!, and Hulu

Contributors Include Katie Nicholl, Tina Brown, Colleen Harris, India Hicks, Robert Lacey,

and Duncan Larcombe

ABC News to Air Two Special One-Hour Editions of “20/20” in Primetime Leading Up to the Royal Nuptials — Culminating in a Special 2-Hour Edition of the Broadcast After the Couple Exchanges Vows

ABC News Brings the Modern Day Fairytale to the Disney Channel Audience

with a Special Series of Animated Shorts

This spring a modern day fairytale unfolds as Prince William and Catherine Middleton exchange wedding vows after nearly a decade of courtship. ABC News will take viewers inside the royal nuptials with nearly 20 hours of original programming on the ABC Television Network as well as comprehensive coverage across all platforms including ABCNews.com and ABC News Radio. Throughout its coverage the news division will work closely with its longstanding international partner the BBC, the principal public service broadcaster in the United Kingdom. In addition, ABC News will create a unique experience for its youngest viewers through partnerships with the Disney Channel and DisneyFamily.com.

As the couple walks down the aisle on Friday, April 29, Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters will anchor special live coverage from Buckingham Palace from 4 AM/ET to 10 AM/ET followed by a live West Coast edition of “Good Morning America.” “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts will be live from Westminster Abbey. They will be joined in London by a team of ABC News anchors and correspondents including: “ABC World News” weekend anchor David Muir, who will bring American viewers into the broadcast as he captures real time reactions to the wedding on Twitter and Facebook; “20/20” co-anchor Chris Cuomo; “Nightline” co-anchor Cynthia McFadden; “GMA Weekend” co-anchor Bianna Golodryga; ABC News London-based correspondent Nick Watt; and ABC News Special Royal Correspondent Katie Nicholl, author of “The Making of a Royal Romance: William, Kate, and Harry – A Look Behind the Palace Walls,” the definitive biography of Prince William and Prince Harry and columnist for The Daily Mail.

Contributors to the broadcast will include: Tina Brown, author of “The Diana Chronicles” and Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek and The Daily Beast; Royal Insider Colleen Harris, who served as Press Secretary to Princes Charles, William, and Harry from 1998 to 2003; one of Princess Diana’s Bridesmaids, India Hicks; Royal Historian, Robert Lacey; and Royal Editor for the Sun Newspaper, Duncan Larcombe.

ABC News will live-stream full coverage of the Royal Wedding on April 29, delivering news content to viewers in more places than ever before. Consumers will be able to access ABC’s live coverage anchored by Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters on ABCNews.com, ABC News app for iPad and iPhone, Hulu, Yahoo!, and on Facebook.

ABC News will kick off its coverage on Monday, April 18 at 10 PM/ET with a “Special Edition of 20/20: William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale” anchored by Barbara Walters. Throughout the week leading up to the wedding “Good Morning America,” “World News with Diane Sawyer,” “Nightline,” and “20/20” will all broadcast from London.

Special Editions of 20/20

On the eve of the wedding, “20/20” will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the life that awaits Catherine after she walks down the aisle. This special hour will air Thursday, April 28 at 8:00 PM/ET and will be anchored by Chris Cuomo in London and Elizabeth Vargas in New York.

In addition to Barbara Walters’ “Special Edition of 20/20: William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale” airing on Monday, April 18 at 10:00 PM/ET, Walters will anchor a special two-hour edition of “20/20” on Friday, April 29 from 9:00-11:00 PM/ET, bringing viewers a look back at the wedding watched by the world.

Good Morning America

Robin Roberts will co-anchor “Good Morning America” live from London throughout the week of April 25. On Monday Roberts will broadcast from Jubilee Gardens. Beginning Tuesday, she will be joined by Barbara Walters when “GMA” originates from Kensington Palace, William’s childhood home. On Wednesday the show will originate from Buckingham Palace and on Thursday from Westminster Abbey.

ABC World News with Diane Sawyer

Diane Sawyer will anchor the broadcast live from London on Wednesday, April 27 through Friday, April 29.

Nightline

Beginning Monday, April 25, Cynthia McFadden will co-anchor the number one show in late-night from London. McFadden will anchor “Nightline” from Westminster Abby on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29. On Thursday, just hours before the wedding, “Nightline” will air a live edition of the broadcast for the West Coast. Throughout the week fashion guru Tim Gunn will contribute to the program.

GMA Weekend

Bianna Golodryga co-anchors the Saturday edition of “GMA Weekend” from London with the latest news on the morning after the wedding.

This Week with Christiane Amanpour

On Sunday, April 24, Christiane Amanpour will have a preview of the wedding and all of the history and tradition that surrounds such an affair.

ABC News Digital

Leading up to the wedding, viewers can stay with ABC News Digital as every detail is unveiled. On ABCNews.com get all the details and latest news in ABC’s special section at www.abcnews.com/royalwedding. The section includes up-to-the minute information and insider details on our Royal Diary blog, a fully interactive Family Tree of the Royal Family, a Guestbook for visitors to leave their well wishes for William and Catherine, and a library of video content featuring both historical and current moments throughout the history of the royal family.

ABC News and Yahoo! have joined forces to create a program exclusive to digital platforms. Straight from London, Wedding Royale is a must-see weekly digital show with the latest news about Prince William, Kate Middleton and their big day. Hosted by Nick Watt, Wedding Royale is an informative yet witty take on the future King and Queen of England – delivered with a twist.

Follow the coverage on Facebook and Twitter: Follow ABC News’ twitter feed @ABCROYALS for the latest details leading up to the big day and catch live tweeting of the event on the @ABC, @ABCROYALS twitter accounts. Plus, “Like” ABC News on Facebook at Facebook.com/abcnews to watch live streaming coverage on April 29th. Connect with ABC News’ latest coverage on mobile: Both the ABC News app for iPad and ABC News app for iPhone feature special sections with the latest Royal coverage & will live stream the event the day of the wedding.

Enhanced ABC News Video eBook

“A Modern Fairy Tale: William and Kate and Three Generations of Royal Love” is an original enhanced eBook that tells the story of how Prince William and Kate Middleton grew up, fell in love, and became engaged. With text by bestselling author Jane Green, video culled from the ABC archives, and dozens of photographs, this 360-degree storytelling experience provides background on the modern young prince, his captivating fiancée, and their upcoming wedding at Westminster Abbey. “A Modern Fairytale” delves into the history of William’s parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip; their love stories; and the details and impact of their historic weddings. To be published on April 11, 2011, this special Hyperion/ABC Video Book is available on the top retailer platforms and includes an original video Foreword by Barbara Walters, featuring Ms. Walters’ recollections of covering the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

ABC News Radio

ABC News Radio will have extensive coverage of the Royal Wedding, providing live anchored coverage of the day’s events beginning at 5:00 AM/ET. The live coverage will be anchored by ABC News Radio Correspondents Aaron Katersky and Cheri Preston from outside Buckingham Palace. ABC News Radio Correspondents Tom Rivers and Linda Albin will contribute from Westminster Abbey and London respectively. A number of special guests and Royal experts will also contribute to the coverage. ABC News Radio will offer one-minute status reports throughout the day of the Royal Wedding to the 2,400 affiliate stations that broadcast ABC News’ coverage across the globe.

ABC News One

Starting the week of April 4, ABC News’ affiliate news service will provide special weekly features on the wedding to all ABC stations and to all ABC clients and partners including the BBC, Bloomberg, NHK Japan, CTV Canada, and Univision. NewsOne Correspondent Diana Alvear will be reporting from London beginning Monday, April 25.

Disney Channel

In recognition of the increased interest in all things royal, Disney Channel will present “A Modern Fairytale: The Royal Wedding Week,” a short-form series for kids, tweens and families, Monday-Friday, April 25-29. Hosted by ABC News’ Juju Chang, the series will tell the story of the royal couple. Disney Channel will present a week-long primetime programming event that includes telecasts of prince and princess-themed movies, including “Enchanted” and “Cinderella,” every night (check local listings).

DisneyFamily.com

DisneyFamily.com has launched a month-long online celebration titled “Happily Ever After.” The website features tips from Disney’s expert princess-makers on how to have a fairytale wedding or vow renewal celebration; a showcase of Disney Princess inspired wedding gowns; ideas for mom and daughter Royal Wedding viewing parties; and fun and easy tips for moms to feel like a princess every day!

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