Television Coverage of the DC Leg

There are an abundance of options for folks wanting to catch part of the Pope's DC leg of his journey. Of course, streaming video is available right here at Pope2008.com and at EWTN.com.

In addition, all of the major Washington, DC stations - NBC 4, News Channel 8, Fox 5, and WUSA 9 plan to provide full coverage of the Pope's visit to DC, including the Papal Mass.

ABC 7, News Channel 8, Fox 5, and WUSA 9 will broadcast live from Nationals Park at 5:00 a.m. Live broadcast will continue through the morning, culminating with a live broadcast of the Mass from 10 a.m.-noon. NBC 4 will provide some coverage of the Mass during the morning newscast and continued live coverage of the Mass from 10 a.m.

According to the Archdiocese of Washington, the stations will stream some of their coverage on their web sites:

·        ABC 7: http://www.wjla.com/news/papalvisit.html

·        News Channel 8: http://www.news8.net/news/papalvisit.html

·        WUSA 9: http://www.wusa9.com/news/faith/papalvisit.aspx

·        Fox 5: http://media.myfoxdc.com/papalvisit/

·        NBC 4: http://www.nbc4.com/pope/index.html

Some stations are planning online and TV Papal Visit special broadcasts:

·        Fox 5 is broadcasting a Papal Visit special on Monday, April 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. it will continue until 8:00 p.m. on their Web site: www.myfoxdc.com.

·        ABC 7 and News Channel 8 are simultaneously broadcasting a one-hour special on the pope’s visit on Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m.

·        NBC 4 is running a series of special reports leading up to the visit.

·        WUSA 9 is streaming all the pope’s speeches and travels live via their web site.

EWTN Interview with President George Bush

Zenit has the complete transcript of Raymond Arroyo's interview with President George Bush. There's much of interest there, but here's the opening and closing...

Q Mr. President, this is the first head of state, Pope Benedict the XVI, you will ever greet on a tarmac. I was stunned to learn this. Why are you going and greeting him at an airstrip? Usually the heads of states come here.

THE PRESIDENT: Because he is a really important figure in a lot of ways. One, he speaks for millions. Two, he doesn't come as a politician; he comes as a man of faith. And, three, that I so subscribe to his notion that there are -- there's right and wrong in life, that moral relativism has a danger of undermining the capacity to have more hopeful and free societies, that I want to honor his convictions, as well.

------------

       Q    Mr. President, final question.

       THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, sir.

       Q    You said, famously, when you looked into Vladimir  Putin's eyes you saw his soul.

   THE  PRESIDENT:  Yes.

     Q    When you look into Benedict XVI's eyes what do you see?

       THE PRESIDENT:  God.

     Q    Good way to end the interview.

       THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, sir.

     Q    Thank you, sir.  My pleasure.

EWTN Feed is Now Available at Pope2008.com

As visitors to the site will now plainly see, EWTN's live feed is now available at the top of the home page, compliments of EWTN. Enjoy the live video coverage while you enjoy the print and photo blog coverage.

Be sure to catch Raymond Arroyo's exclusive interview with President George Bush here at 8 p.m. tonight. Arroyo is interviewing President Bush from "The World Over's" new studio at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.

EWTN Streaming Video Begins Tomorrow

As promised previously, tomorrow Pope2008.com will take on a slightly different look. EWTN's LiveFeed will begin tomorrow, appearing at the top of the Pope2008.com blog, providing live, streaming video. Once Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the U.S., you'll be able to watch EWTN's coverage of the Papal visit here, along with the content that only the National Catholic Register and its cadre of reporters and editors can provide.

MSNBC is Looking for First Person Accounts

MSNBC is looking for first person accounts from those who are going to see the Pope and why. If you're traveling to see the Pope, think about submitting your story and a photo or video. I'm sure MSNBC won't be the only media outlet looking for this. They just happen to be the first to have a request online.

Pope2008 Receives Attention and Stay Tuned for Changes

Pope2008.com continues to receive attention. The North Haven Citizen has a story about the site from Saturday's edition.

Readers will be interested to know of at least three changes that will be taking place on the site as we approach the date of the Pope's arrival.

First, the site will transform from linking to existing stories to providing more original content, much of it live from the events and being written while the events are taking place. Readers who can't be in D.C. or New York will be transported to the events via live, in-person reporting as events happen.

Second, expect posts from other National Catholic Register writers who will be attending various events. Since reporters were limited to covering one event (in-person) per day, we have other writers who may blog from some of the other events.

Finally, remember that we'll be providing EWTN streaming coverage throughout the Pope's visit. That will enable you not only to read the original content that you won't find anywhere else, but it will also allow you to follow along as the events take place.

EWTN's Papal Coverage Web Page

EWTN has unveiled its web page for papal coverage. Remember, in addition to being able to catch the coverage live in streaming video, not only will you be able to watch it at EWTN, but we'll also be providing streaming video from EWTN here, so that you can watch the coverage live, while reading stories from our reporters at the events.

In other news, Radio World has the news that EWTN is joining with XM Satellite Radio to provide radio coverage of the Papal visit.

XM Satellite Radio will join with EWTN Global Catholic Network to launch a six-day XM Radio channel devoted to the visit. The Papal U.S. Visit ‘08 channel will air nationwide on XM channel 120 from April 15-20. The channel can also be heard on XM Radio Online.

The channel will feature news and commentary as the pontiff travels to Washington and New York. On-site coverage by EWTN will include masses at Washington’s new Nationals Park, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Yankee Stadium in New York, as well as the pope’s visits to the White House, United Nations, Ground Zero and the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

Another TV Channel Covering the Pope's Visit

According to a press release from Watertown, Mass.-based CatholicTV, on-demand video of the Pope's visit will be available at www.PopeinAmerica.com.

CatholicTV will be providing coverage of the Pope’s visit to America on cable and via a live stream at CatholicTV.com, its Catholic broadband network. Sky Angel IPTV subscribers can see all the coverage on channel 142. Selected cable companies carry CatholicTV programming.

About CatholicTV®:
CatholicTV provides family-friendly religious, news, and educational programming 24 hours daily. Founded over fifty years ago, CatholicTV is available in selected areas in the United States and Canada and online via a live stream anytime, everywhere at the station's web site www.CatholicTV.com. The station can also be seen on Sky Angel’s IPTV. Father Robert Reed, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, is the Director of CatholicTV.

Exclusive: Live Streaming EWTN Coverage will be Available on Pope2008.com

You read that right, not only will you be able to watch EWTN's wall-to-wall coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's U.S. visit on cable and at EWTN.com, but an agreement between the EWTN Global Catholic Television Network and the National Catholic Register will allow those tethered to their computers to watch complete, live, commercial-free coverage right here at www.Pope2008.com.

From EWTN: "An Apostolic Journey to the United States - Follow the Holy Father on this historic trip to Washington, DC and New York. It's an event you won't want to miss and you can see it LIVE and in its entirety on EWTN Global Catholic Network and on Pope2008.com - a National Catholic Register site. Complete. Live. Commercial-Free Coverage April 15 - 20th."

Full Papal Television Coverage - EWTN

As expected, EWTN will be covering the Pope's U.S. visit live. While the major networks will be covering some of the events, and providing excerpts from others, EWTN is likely one of the few that will be covering the entire event from start to finish. The Canadian Salt + Light Television, by comparison, is sending a camera person and some staff, but at this point is in the dark about what events they'll be able to cover. It looks like EWTN will be the place to be, on television, for papal coverage. Here's their official press release:

EWTN to Provide Live Coverage of Benedict XVI's Historic U.S. Visit 
Irondale, AL (EWTN) – EWTN Global Catholic Network will provide live coverage of every event in Pope Benedict XVI’s historic U.S. trip, from the time his plane lands until he departs the country.

Special live coverage, airing Tuesday, April 15 through Sunday, April 20, will be provided by EWTN News Director Raymond Arroyo, who has anchored more papal events than anyone in the industry and who obtained the only English language interview in existence today with the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

As a precursor to the visit, Arroyo has obtained an exclusive interview with President George Bush in which he will discuss U.S. relations with the Holy See, the papal visit, Iraq, and much more. The special will air 8 p.m. April 11 on the "The World Over Live" on EWTN.

In addition to the live shows (details listed below), EWTN’s continuing coverage will include three specials:

· “BENEDICTUS XVI: PAPA JOSEPH RATZINGER,” a documentary offering a close look at Cardinal Ratzinger in the period following the death of Pope John Paul II, and an analysis of what he brings to the table as the new Pope Benedict XVI. (Airing 8 p.m. April 12; 2 a.m. April 13; 11 p.m. April 15; and 8:30 p.m. April 20,)

· “POPE BENEDICT XVI: MY VATICAN,” a documentary on the life of Pope Benedict XVI, featuring interviews before and after his papal election and a glimpse of his daily routine in the Vatican. . (Airing 10 p.m. April 13; 2 p.m. April 15; 4 a.m. April 18; and 5 p.m. April 20.)

· “DEFENDERS OF FAITH IN WORD AND DEED,” a show in which well-known EWTN Television Host Father Charles Connor demonstrates the many ways in which Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has been an astounding defender of the Faith. (Airing 9 a.m. April 18; and 10:30 p.m. April 19.)

SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE

Arroyo will be joined in live coverage and commentary of the Pope’s trip by Father Richard John Neuhaus, editor and author; Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal columnist, author and speechwriter for President Reagan; and Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

Live coverage will be as follows: (All times Eastern)

Tuesday, April 15, 3:30 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Andrews Air Force Base and is greeted by President and Mrs. Bush, local dignitaries of the Church, and the apostolic nuncio. (Encore 8 p.m. April 15, and 4 a.m. April 16.)

Wednesday, April 16, 10:00 a.m.

Pope Benedict XVI is received by President and Mrs. Bush at a White House welcoming ceremony, followed by a private meeting between the President and the Pope, and the dignitaries of the two states. (Encore 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. April 16.)

Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI gathers with the bishops of the United States for a prayer service and address at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

(Encore 10:30 p.m. April 16, and 4 a.m. April 17.)

Thursday, April 17, 9:30 a.m.

Pope Benedict XVI offers Mass at the new Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

(Encore 1 p.m. April 17 and 12 a.m.)

Thursday, April 17, 4:30 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI will address hundreds of Catholic University heads and diocesan superintendents on the importance Catholic education at the Catholic University of America.

(Encore 9 p.m. April 17, and 5 a.m. April 18.)

Thursday, April 17, 6:00 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with representatives of various religions for a prayer service at the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.

(Encore 10:30 p.m. April 17 and 6:30 a.m. April 18.)

Friday, April 18, 9:30 a.m.

Arrival at JFK International Airport. 

(Encore 4:30 p.m. April 18, and 1 a.m. April 19.)

Friday, April 18, 10:30 a.m.

Pope Benedict XVI will address the United Nations, after an early morning flight to New York.

(Encore 2:30 p.m.and 8 p.m. April 18, and 2 a.m. April 19.)

Friday, April 18, 5:30 p.m.

Prayer service with leaders from other Christian denominations at St. Joseph's, founded by German Catholics, in Manhattan.

(Encore 10 p.m. April 18, and 3:30 a.m. April 19.)

Saturday, April 19, 9:00 a.m.

Mass for priests, deacons and members of religious orders at St. Patrick¹s Cathedral in the heart of New York City.

(Encore 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. April 20.)

Saturday, April 19, 4:00 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with thousands of young people from around the country; the event includes a rally/prayer service and a speech from the Pope. (Encore 8 p.m. April 19, and 4 a.m. April 20.)

Sunday, April 20, 9:00 a.m.

Pope Benedict XVI visits the former World Trade Center site, now known as Ground Zero in New York City.

(Encore 11 a.m. April 20, and 1 a.m. April 21.)

Sunday, April 20, 2:00 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Holy Mass at Yankee Stadium in New York, bringing his historic U.S. visit to a close.

(Encore 10 p.m. April 20.)

Sunday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI departs. (Encore 2:30 a.m. April 21.)