Here are the TV schedules for Obama’s Inauguration live coverage:

1) CNN, 2009 Presidential Inauguration TV schedule

7.00 AM – 2.00 PM: Swearing-in and Parade coverage anchored by Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper

2) ABC, 2009 Inaugural TV schedule

7.00 AM – 2.00 PM: Swearing-in coverage by Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos
8 PM – 10 PM: Exclusive coverage of the Neighborhood Ball

3) CBS, 2009 Presidential Inauguration TV schedule

7.00 AM – 2.00 PM: Presidential swearing-in coverage by Katie Couric

4) PBS, 2009 Presidential Inauguration TV schedule

8.00 AM – 2.00: President-elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration coverage by Jim Lehrer

5) BBC, 2009 Presidential Inauguration TV schedule

8.00 AM: Live coverage of Barack Obama’s Inauguration

6) MSNBC, Presidential Inaugural TV schedule

7.00 AM – 12 AM: Live coverage of Presidential Inauguration events

7) MTV, Presidential Inaugural TV schedule

7:00 PM – 2:30 AM: MTV will exclusively air the Youth Ball worldwide

Some of the sites that will stream live coverage of Barack Obama’s 2009 Presidential Inauguration:

1) CNN.com will stream Barack Obama’s Inaugural coverage in collaboration with Facebook
2) MSNBC.MSN.COM
3) BBC website, for UK users
4) ABC News
5) PBS
6) USAToday
7) The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will also stream the 2009 Presidential Inaugural from its website
New York Times will stream the Inaugural ceremonies from its homepage
9) CurrentTV will partner with Twitter for live coverage of the Inauguration and live discussions
10) Justin.tv

Here is a complete list of the day’s program of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Day:
8:35 AM – 9.45 AM: Prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church

10.05 AM – 11 AM: Coffee at the White House with President George and First Lady Laura Bush

11.30 AM:

• Performance by the US Marine Band, The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
• Welcome address and call to order by California Senator Dianne Feinstein.
• Invocation from Dr. Rick Warren, of Saddleback Church
• Performance by Aretha Franklin

11:50 AM: Swearing-in ceremony of Vice President-elect Joe Biden by Supreme Court Justice John Stevens.
12.00 PM:

• Barack Obama’s Presidential Oath of Office  by Chief of Justice of USA, Justice John G Roberts
• Musical performance by Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill, John Williams, composer-arranger

12:05 PM:

• President Barack Obama’s Inaugural addressRecitation of a poem by Elizabeth Alexander
• Benediction by Dr. Joseph Lowery
• National anthem by the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters

12:30 PM: Obama will sign inauguration papers in the President’s Room

1:00 PM: Presidential Luncheon

2:30 PM: Barack Obama’s 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade

7.00 PM: The official 2009 Presidential inaugural balls will be kicked off.

1) Commander-in-Chief’s Ball, 7.00 PM – 12.00 AM

2) Neighborhood Ball, 7.00 PM – 10.30 PM. Performers like Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Shakira, and Stevie Wonder will participate in the ball.

3) Youth Inaugural Ball, 9:00 PM – 2:30 AM, for Youth between 18 – 35 years.

4) Obama Home States (Illinois and Hawaii ) Inaugural Ball, Washington Convention Center, Hall E, 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM for Illinois and Hawaii guests

5) Biden Home States (Delaware and Pennsylvania) Inaugural Ball, 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM for Delaware and Pennsylvania guests

6) Eastern Inaugural Ball, 10:00 PM – 2:30 AM, for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands invited guests

7) Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball, 8:00 PM – 12:30 AM, for Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, and West Virginia invited guests

Midwest Inaugural Ball, 8:00 PM – 1:30 AM, for Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Missouri invited guests

9) Southern Inaugural Ball, 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM, for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas invited guests

10) Western Inaugural Ball, 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s 2009 Presidential Inaugural Day schedule is very much in line with tradition. The 2009 Presidential Inaugural Day schedule will include Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony, the Inaugural Parade, ten Inaugural Balls, Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address, and musical performances by top artists.

Here is Barack Obama’s 2009 Presidential Inaugural Day schedule of events that will be held at the West end of the US Capitol, on January 20, 2009. Timings are Eastern Standard Time.

8:35 AM – 9.45 AM: A prayer service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Frankin D Roosevelt started the tradition of  morning service at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

10.05 AM – 11 AM: Barack Obama and family have coffee with President Bush and the First Lady Laura Bush at the White House

11.00 AM: The Obamas leave for the West end of the Capitol

11.30 AM: The program will start with a performance by the US Marine Band, The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

This will be followed by the welcome address and call to order by California Senator Dianne Feinstein, an invocation from Dr. Rick Warren, of Saddleback Church, followed by a performance by Aretha Franklin.

11:50 AM: Swearing-in ceremony of Vice President-elect Joe Biden by Supreme Court Justice John Stevens.

12 PM: Chief of Justice of USA, Justice John G Roberts will administer the Presidential Oath of Office to President-Elect Barack Obama. The public will be able to watch the swearing-in ceremony at the National Mall west of 4th Street, without tickets.

This will be followed by a musical peformance by Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill on a piece of music by John Williams, composer-arranger.

12:05 PM: President Barack Obama will give his much-awaited Inaugural address, where he will shed light on his vision for America and his political values.

The inaugural address tradition was first put into practice during the swearing-in of the first US President George Washington in 1789.

The Inaugural address will be followed by the recitation of a poem by Elizabeth Alexander, by the poetess herself, and a benediction by Dr. Joseph Lowery.

This will be followed by the national anthem by the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters.

12:30 PM: After the departure of former President George Bush and former Vice President Cheney, Barack Obama will sign inauguration papers in the President’s Room.

1:00 PM: Barack Obama attends luncheon held at the Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol

2:30 PM: Barack Obama’s 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade will commence with President Obama leading the procession to the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue, which will continue until 6 PM. The parade will be open to the public.

7.00 PM: The official 2009 Presidential inaugural balls will be kicked off.

Barack and Michelle Obama

1) Commander-in-Chief’s Ball, National Building Museum, 7.00 PM – 12.00 AM. This ball is not open to the public.

2) Neighborhood Ball at the Washington Convention Center, Hall D, 7.00 PM – 10.30 PM. The ball will include President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s first dance, to Beyonce’s At Last. Other performers will include Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Shakira, and Stevie Wonder. Tickets needed. Some tickets reserved for Washington DC residents.

3) Youth Inaugural Ball, Washington Hilton, 9:00 PM – 2:30 AM, for Youth between 18 – 35 years.

4) Obama Home States (Illinois and Hawaii ) Inaugural Ball, Washington Convention Center, Hall E, 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM for Illinois and Hawaii guests

5) Biden Home States (Delaware and Pennsylvania) Inaugural Ball, Washington Convention Center, Ballroom, 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM for Delaware and Pennsylvania guests

6) Eastern Inaugural Ball, Union Station, 10:00 PM – 2:30 AM, for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands invited guests

7) Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball, Washington Convention Center, Hall A, 8:00 PM – 12:30 AM, for Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, and West Virginia invited guests

Midwest Inaugural Ball, Washington Convention Center, Hall C, 8:00 PM – 1:30 AM, for Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Missouri invited guests

9) Southern Inaugural Ball, DC Armory, 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM, for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas invited guests

10) Western Inaugural Ball, Location: Washington Convention Center, Hall B, 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM for Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma, Guam/AS invited guests

Events on January 21, 2009

8.30 AM: National Prayer Service, Washington National Cathedral; not open to public, tickets are required.

Barack Obama 2009 Inaugural Day telecast:

Major TV channels like NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX will broadcast the event EST. Viewers will also be able to view the events live online.

Reports say that TV channels are paying over $5 million for exclusive rights to balls and such. The Barack Obama Inaugural Committee has said that Walt Disney Co. is paying $2 million to show the Neighborhood Ball on ABC.

MTV will pay $650,000 for exclusive rights to broadcast Obama’s 2009 Inaugural Day Youth Ball worldwide.

For the first time, the Presidential Oath of Office of a US President will be such a multi-cultural affair with performances by artists like Aretha Franklin, the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus choruses, the  U.S. Navy and Marines bands.

Aretha Franklin will sing at Barack Obama

Inauguration Day will also have a musical selection of John Williams, performed by the quartet: Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet).

As per tradition, on Inaugural Night, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host 10 inaugural balls that include the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball, the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, the Youth Inaugural Ball, five regional balls, and two balls for Illinois and Hawaii, his home states.

Beyonce will sing At Last for Barack and Michelle Obama

Beyonce is said to provide the vocals for Barack and Michelle Obama’s first dance on Inauguration night. She will sing Etta James’ classic At Last.

Reports also say that Beyonce will perform at the Neighborhood Ball that will be held at the Washington Convention Center. She will be accompanied by husband Jay-Z, will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Sting, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder and Maroon 5.

Mariah Carey will perform at the Neighborhood Ball

The Neighborhood Ball will see the likes of celebrities like Jessica Alba, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Walsh as presenters.

Hollywood will be more than adequately represented by Anne Hathaway, Susan Sarandon, Marcia Cross, Tim Robbins, Seal, Adrian Grenier, Ashley Judd, Jane Krakowski, Rachael Leigh Cook, Spike Lee and Ron Howard.

Sting will perform at the Neighborhood ball

Barack Obama’s Inaugural opening ceremony on January 19, 2009 included performances from artists like U2, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Shakira and Usher among others.

The ceremony also included Martin Luther King III quoting John F. Kennedy, Laura Linney quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Tom Hanks quoting Abraham Lincoln.

2009 Presidential Inaugural ceremony will be held at Lincoln Memorial

It has not been revealed as to how much HBO will have to shell out to air the 2009 Inaugural ceremony of Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration week.

The PIC has said that the opening ceremony will be free and open to the public, and anyone across America with cable or satellite services will be able to view the Presidential Inaugural opening ceremony.

While other networks will not be able to air the 2009 Presidential Inaugural ceremony, they will provide extensive coverage of the Presidential Inauguration and other events that will take place before Inauguration Day.

The PIC Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau, has been quoted as saying, “We are very excited that HBO will be televising the kick-off event for our Inaugural. Their proven track record as a leader in television will help ensure an event that reflects President-elect Obama’s commitment to holding an inauguration that is open, accessible and reflects America’s spirit of unity.  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.“

The 2009 Presidential opening ceremony and the other Presidential Inaugural ceremonies are expected to be high-octane events featuring performances by artists from the entertainment and music industry.

The opening ceremony of the Presidential Inauguration will be attended by President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice-President Elect Joseph Biden.

As per tradition, President-Elect Barack Obama will go by train to Washington DC, and will pick up Vice-President Elect Joe Biden and family from Wilmington, DE, on January 17, 2009. Obama and Biden will halt on the way to attend a event in Baltimore.

The PIC has revealed that On January 19, 2009, President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice-President Elect Joe Biden will commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. by taking part in community service activities. On the same night, a youth concert will be held at the Verizon center in Washington DC.

On the Presidential Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, traditional Inaugural ceremonies and events will take place. These will include musical performances by The United States Marine Band, The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus, welcome address by Senator Dianne Feinstein, Invocation by
Dr. Rick Warren, and performance by Aretha Franklin.

After which, Vice President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn in by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable John Paul Stevens. The swearing-in event will be followed by President-elect Barack H. Obama’s Oath of Office, administered by the Chief Justice of the United States, the Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr., the Inaugural address, a poem by Elizabeth Alexander,  benediction by the Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, and the national anthem rendered by the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters.

On Inaugural Night, Barack Obama will host 10 inaugural balls, which include the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball, the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, the Youth Inaugural Ball, five regional balls, and two for his home states of Illinois and Hawaii.

Scarlett Johanssen and Barack Obama

Will there be many celebrities present at US President-elect Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration?

George Clooney with Barack Obama

Given the massive celebrity support Obama has had during his campaign, it is expected that Jay-Z, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johannsen, Robert De Niro, comedian Chris Rock, Samuel L Jackson, Ben Affleck, Caroline Kennedy, Sean Diddy Combs, and Oprah Winfrey may be present at the presidential inauguration.

Barack Obama does the twist at Ellen Degeneres show

Many of these celebrities have contributed to the campaign and organized fundraisers. Oprah alone raised $3 million at a bash that threw at her California home.

Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy, Maria Shriver and Oprah Winfrey

US president-elect Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration will take place at the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 20, 2009, two and a half months after the election. The gap between Election day and the Presidential Inauguration day, in the 1800s, was nearly four months. This was because in those days it took a lot of time for travel and proceedings to take place. Later, the gap was reduced to two and a half months, which is used by the outgoing US President for pardons and policy changes. Barack Obama will use the next two and a half months for new high-level appointments, cabinet selection, White House staff selection, and handover for the new team.

Some reports say that Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel was likely to be chosen as the Chief of Staff.

Barack Obama’s inaugural theme “A Birth of New Freedom” is inspired by President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address.

Covered fountain at the Presidential Inauguration platform site

Preparations for the Presidential Inauguration began on September 24, 2008, with the ceremonial “first nail” of the Inauguration platform. On November 5, 2008, the 10,000-feet Inauguration platform was built on the West side of the US Capitol.

First Nail Ceremony to kick off the Presidential Inauguration preparations

As per tradition, Barack Obama’s presidential election will kick off with a procession from the White House to the Capitol. Barack Obama’s Presidential Oath of Office will  be held after the oath is taken by the vice president-elect Joe Biden.

After the presidential swearing-in ceremony, President-elect Barack Obama will give his Inaugural Address, following which Obama will go the National Statuary Hall for a luncheon, and then the Inaugural Parade will be held, which will go back to the White House from the US Capitol.

The US Capitol's Statuary Hall

Nearly 200,000 people are expected to be present.

Barack-Obama’s Presidential Inauguration is expected to be watched extensively around the world, if the frenzy generated on Election day is anything to go by.

President-elect Barack Obama has certainly drawn many firsts. He is the first leader of the Democratic party to win more than 50 percent of the popular vote since 1976. The election also saw the largest turnout, 64.1, since 1905.

Obama’s campaign has been the costliest – $700 million spent on the campaign  – and the longest.

The popular vote for president-elect Obama was 52.3 per cent, and 46.4 percent for senator McCain.

Barack Obama

It’s only after the oath has been taken that the President can enter on the execution of the office of presidency.

Like all preceding US presidents, Barack Obama will take the US Presidential Oath:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The swearing-in ceremony and the oath taking usually happens at the United States Capitol in Washington DC.

The current Chief Justice of USA, John. G Roberts will administer the Presidential oath of Office to President Barack Obama. In 2005, the Presidential Oath of Office was administered to George W. Bush by the then Chief Justice of USA William Rehnquist.

Before President Barack Obama is sworn in during The Presidential Oath of Office, Vice-President Joe Biden will be sworn in.

John F Kennedy after attending Mass, before the US Presidential Oath of Office

Historically, before the swearing-in ceremony is conducted, president-elects go for morning worship service, ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt attended the St. John’s Episcopal  Church before the Presidential Oath of Office.

After the swearing-in ceremony, President Obama will give his presidential inaugural address. The practice of inaugural addresses started with the Presidential Oath of Office of the first US President George Washington in April 30, 1789.

JFK gives his Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961

In the inaugural address, the US president-elect outlines his vision of America and political values that will govern the country. In the past, the inaugural addresses have seen some fantastic speeches from the likes of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, that are quoted to this day.

The inaugural address of President Barack Obama will be held on the west front of the United States Capitol.

After the inaugural address, President Obama will be taken for the Inaugural luncheon, traditionally held at the Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the Presidential Inaugural Parade

The luncheon will be followed by the Inaugural parade in which Barack Obama and Joe Biden will lead a procession to the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue. The parade will consist of citizens, ceremonial military regiments, citizens’ groups, marching bands, and floats.

John F Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy at the Presidential Inaugural Ball in 1961

Following that, the Presidential Inaugural Ball will be held on the night of January 20, 2008, in Washington DC.