INAUGURATION 2009: On television

Inauguration Day for years has been a big day for TV. But given the historic significance of Barack Obama’s election, everyone seems to have ratcheted coverage up a notch both on the small screen and the Web. Here are some highlights of what to catch over the next couple of days:

Special Sunday event: HBO has exclusive access to a special Lincoln Memorial inauguration celebration at 2:30 p.m., with an encore airing at 7 p.m. tonight. Among the scheduled performers: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks and two locals: Usher and Jennifer Nettles. Martin Luther King III will be among those who will read historical passages. HBO will make the event available to all cable and satellite subscribers.

BET and TV One go all out: Both cable networks are pouring resources into live coverage as well as special programming. BET will feature a special that examines the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence on Obama on Monday at 10:30 p.m. TV One will air two documentaries about Obama on Tuesday starting at 8 a.m. Even BET’s music show “106 & Park” (6 p.m. Monday) will devote itself to the festivities.

For the kids: On Monday at 8 p.m., the Disney Channel will air a concert honoring military families called “Kids’ Inaugural: We Are the Future” with the likes of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.

Anchor positions: Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper are the leads for CNN. Chris Wallace and Shepard Smith will anchor Fox News. MSNBC will tag-team Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow and Eugene Robinson. Jim Lehrer is the man at PBS. Brian Williams helms the NBC ship. Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos are the faces of ABC, which will also feature full primetime coverage including Beyonce singing at the Obama’s first dance. And CBS? Katie Couric, of course.

Dollars and sense: CNBC will cover the inauguration with a focus on the economy.

Democracy plus capitalism: QVC will have cameras on hand for the parade, hawking keepsakes such as Barack Obama Presidential Special Edition Coins (just $19!) and a Barack Obama Metallic Commemorative Card ($19.75).

Don’t forget the radio: WABE-FM (90.1) will forgo classical music and go with Steve Inskeep from “Morning Edition” and Michele Norris from “All Things Considered” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. V-103 will play inspirational music while its key radio personalities report live from Washington. Several stations will air the swearing-in ceremony, including Praise 97.5 and Smooth Jazz (107.5). WSB-AM (750) will have three reporters in the capital city.

A sampling online: MSNBC.com will offer live streaming video that can be embedded in Web sites. CNN.com will have four live streams. CBSNews.com created a separate special inauguration site. ABC.com includes inaugural speeches from past presidents.