Hurricane Irene Could Change Coverage Plans for Dedication of MLK Jr. Memorial

The cable networks are planning special coverage Sunday morning for the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C. But Hurricane Irene could scrap some of the outdoor anchor positions the nets had been planning. And while the event will go on rain or shine, the ceremony may be pushed back. Dr. King’s Memorial is on a four-acre plot on the northwest corner of the Tidal Basin.

The dedication comes on the 48th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech from the nearby Lincoln Memorial. Here’s what the nets are planning, weather permitting:

• CNN’s Candy Crowley, T.J. Holmes and Soledad O’Brien will anchor live coverage from 11amET-1pmET with reports beginning as early as 6amET and a special edition of “State of the Union” at 9amET. Other specials include a Holmes-hosted half hour at 7:30pm Saturday and the O’Brien documentary “MLK: Words that Changed a Nation” Sunday at 8pmET/PT.

• MSNBC’s Alex Witt will host dedication coverage, featuring Mara Schiavocampo, Eugene Robinson, and Rev. Al Sharpton, live from the dedication site. Tomorrow, Tamron Hall will

  host “NewsNation” and Rev. Sharpton will host “PoliticsNation” from there as well.

• TV One will offer live coverage from 9amET-1pmET. The coverage will be anchored by TV One’s Roland Martin along with Sirius XM Radio host Joe Madison, and Art Fennell, executive producer and host of “Art Fennell Reports” on The Comcast Network. Martin will also be participating in the day’s official ceremonies.

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