HBO to Broadcast Obama Inaugural Ceremony for Free

Wednesday January 07, 2009 12:45 PM EST

President-Elect Barack Obama

Charles Dharapak/AP

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HBO will broadcast Barack Obama's inaugural ceremonies on Jan. 18 from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Variety reports.

The cable network will broadcast the event on an open signal, which means that any viewer with cable or satellite may tune in to the ceremony for free.

No entertainment has been confirmed – though Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand are reportedly among the performers who have been approached for the occasion.

Aretha Franklin has already been confirmed to sing at Obama's swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20. She will be joined at the program by Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma. – Brian Orloff"]