Inauguration: ABC, CNN... Nickelodeon?

Broadcast networks will face new competition on the day of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration as niche networks including Nickelodeon, MTV and even QVC jump into covering the historic events on Jan. 20. The networks are planning blanket coverage, but HBO has landed exclusive telecast rights to a concert and celebration, possibly including Barbra Streisand or Bruce Springsteen, on Jan. 18 at the Lincoln Memorial. Shopping channel QVC will sell memorabilia on-air at the inaugural balls, while Nickelodeon is sending two underaged reporters, says the NYT. "We had a lot of affiliates who said that on this historic day they'd rather be doing inauguration coverage than pretty much anything else," said Sean McManus, president of CBS News.