Sky News (DStv 402) has just become the 4th and last of the major overseas 24 hour news channels to announce its extended coverage plans for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April. South African viewers will be able to watch live news coverage of the Royal Wedding on Sky News as well, following BBC World News, BBC Knowledge and CNN International. South African viewers won't get to see the Royal Wedding in high definition (HD) since M-Net decided not to pursue the broadcasting rights.
Sky News just announced that its Royal Wedding day coverage will start at 08:00 (South African time) hosted by Eamonn Holmes and Dermot Murnaghan. Sky News will have a purpose-built studio outside Buckingham Palace where Eamonn Holmes will be joined later during the day by Sarah Hughes, Sky News' royal correspondent. Sarah Hughes will also be speaking to the millions of well-wishers during the day who are expected to line the streets.
Sky News' Kay Burley will head up coverage live from Westminster Abbey, catching the first glimpse of the couple as man and wife. Alastair Bruce, Sky News' royal commentator, as well as officer of arms to the Queen, will be alongside her. Alistair Bruce's detailed knowledge of royal protocol will help viewers understand the traditions of the day.
The news broadcaster says a range of other Sky News presenters and reporters will be lining the route to talk to the crowds as the couple make their way from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. Sky News will also hear from the public across Britain including St Andrews, where the couple were at university, Anglesey, where they now live and Bucklebury, Kate Middleton's home village.
Sky News is also creating a special initiative entitled, ''Your Royal Wedding''. Sky News will be asking viewers to send their experiences of the royal wedding via video. These videos will form an hourlong programme of user generated content to be shown at 23:00 on Sky News on 29 April.
''Our coverage will be newsy, celebratory and fun,'' says John Ryley, head of Sky News in a press release.
