The death of Princess Diana touched off an explosion of highly rated media coverage last summer, and anybody who thought the first anniversary of that event would slip by unnoticed isn’t living on the planet Earth in the late 1990s.
In fact, TV viewers should be prepared for a multiday barrage of Diana-related news programs, documentaries and entertainment specials marking the moment.
Here’s what’s in the works:
– MSNBC. It comes as no surprise that the news/talk channel that prides itself on blanket coverage of the story of the moment — all O.J., all Monica, all Diana — is going all-out on this anniversary.
MSNBC has laid out what it calls a four-day commemoration, “Diana: The First Anniversary,” started Friday, and you’re likely to see little else before next Tuesday.
The coverage extends even further on “Time & Again,” hosted by Jane Pauley, which will devote four shows to “The Life and Death of Princess Diana” next Monday through Thursday nights.
– NBC. News division coverage started with “Dateline” on Friday, with two more “Dateline” editions Sunday and Monday.
“Today” will devote another segment to the topic on Monday, and Sunday’s “Weekend Todyay” will include a London report from co-anchor Applegate.
NBC Entertainment, meanwhile, has scheduled “Diana,” a self-described documentary tribute, in prime time on Monday, 7 p.m. on WMAQ-Ch. 5.
– CBS. CBS News’ “48 Hours” will devote its 9 p.m. Monday edition to “Princess Diana: Fatal Decisions,” a series of reports on the status of the investigation into Diana’s death. “Sunday Morning” will feature an in-depth report by Rita Braver on the public’s continuing fascination with the Diana story. Additional Diana coverageis scheduled for CBS News’ “Saturday Morning” and “This Morning,” which plans to devote the majority of its Monday broadcast to the story.
– Fox News Channel. Saturday and Sunday will feature multiple repeats of two previously aired specials, along with two freshly packaged reports: “A Diana Special: Movietone Presents the Royals,” premiering Saturday at 6 a.m., features newly assembled newsreel footage; and “Diana Remembered,” premiering Saturday at 6 p.m., combines two new half-hour reports produced by Fox’ British sister channel, Sky News.
– CNN. Sunday night at 9, the news channel has scheduled “A NewsStand Special: Diana,” hosted by Jeff Greenfield, Willow Bay and Judd Rose, and described as a joint project of CNN and Time, Fortune and Entertainment Weekly magazines. In addition, Monday’s 8 p.m. edition of “Larry King Live” also will focus on the anniversary of Diana’s death.
– ABC. ABC News’ Lisa McRee will be in London Monday morning to co-anchor “Good Morning America.”
– A&E. Sunday night at 7, the channel will repeat its two-hour “Biography: Princess Diana: The True Story.” That’ll be followed Monday night at 9 with a repeat of “Investigative Reports: Diana’s Last Day,” hosted by Bill Kurtis.
– History Channel. Monday night at 9, “As It Happened: When Diana Died,” a new one-hour documentary from Nigel Turner Productions.
– E! Sunday at 7, the premiere of “Princess Diana: The E! True Hollywood Story,” a two-hour program focusing on Diana’s status as a celebrity.
