NBCU's Royal Wedding Coverage Going Cross-Platform

Includes 20 hours of programming on day of nuptials

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/28/2011 12:54:59 PM

NBCUniversal has announced its broadcast plans for the upcoming Royal Wedding including over 20 hours of combined coverage from NBC and MSNBC on the day of the nuptials, April 29.

The coverage will span NBCU's television and digital properties  -- including Access Hollywood, Bravo, E!, iVillage, Telemundo and The Weather Channel -- and leverage its partnership with U.K. broadcaster ITN.

Starting on April 22, Today anchor Natalie Morales will report live from London, with Meredith Viera joining on April 25 and full Today broadcasts from London on April 28 and 29. The special wedding day edition of Today on April 29 will begin at 4 a.m. ET with Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker, Morales, Viera and Nightly News anchor Brian Williams.

Dateline will air a special report on bride-to-be Kate Middleton on April 24 and a two-hour "instant documentary" in primetime on the day of the wedding. Williams will anchor NBC Nightly News from London starting April 27. The weekend editions of both Today and Nightly News will have live coverage from London on April 30. NBC will also air the primetime special Inside the Royal Wedding on April 27

On the cable networks, MSNBC will feature live reports from London starting April 24, with Martin Bashir and Chris Jansing anchoring the net's wedding day coverage starting at 3 a.m. ET. Joe Scarborough, Mika Brezinski and Willie Geist will anchor Morning Joe from across the pond April 25-28.

Andy Cohen will host a special Watch What Happens Live: Royal Wedding Spectacular on Bravo with Real Housewives guests. E! will broadcast from London starting April 25 with wedding day coverage hosted by Giuliana Rancic.

Telemundo will have daily coverage from London starting April 25, and will broadcast the royal wedding live on April 29. Even NBCU-owned The Weather Channel is getting in the game, with the latest forecasts and weather from London starting April 25.

The syndicated Access Hollywood and daytime Access Hollywood Live will broadcast from London April 25-29. Women's digital property iVillage will host a digital conversation on April 29 dubbed a "Royal Wedding pajama party" starting at 6 a.m. ET.

NBC News also launched its Royal Wedding iPad app Monday, which gives access to new and archived photos and NBC News reports about the Royal Wedding, an interactive royal family tree, ideas for throwing a royal wedding watch party and more.