5 Best Ways to Watch the Obama Inauguration Online

by Jarrett Martineau | January 19, 2009 at 12:19 pm

43556 views | 89 Recommendations | 26 comments

Barack Obama's official swearing-in ceremony as the 44th President of the United States will take place on January 20th beginning at 11:30am EST.

NowPublic is liveblogging the proceedings here: Barack Obama Inauguration Liveblog

The speech event will occur from 11AM New York, 2PM Rio, 5PM Geneva, 12AM (Wed) Hong Kong.

For those who will be in Washington for this historic event as well as for those who are interested from afar — everyone is looking for ways to watch, follow, and track the inauguration online in real-time. Here is a full schedule of the inaugural events and an hour-by-hour breakdown of inaugural events.

NowPublic is assembling ongoing coverage, liveblogging, photos, and live video of the events at our special news coverage page of the Obama Inauguration, however, there are many ways follow the festivities. Here are some of the best.

NowPublic will be updating this post regularly as more information is available. Follow NowPublic on Twitter for further updates.

As long as you have an Internet connection, you’ll be able to watch the ceremony as if you were there. Visit www.pic2009.org on Tuesday, January 20th to watch the swearing-in live.

The swearing-in ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. ET on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

1. ONLINE VIDEO

President Obama's Official Live Video Stream - watch the swearing-in ceremony live at: www.pic2009.org

Hulu - Offering up a live video stream (available in U.S. only, unfortunately) http://www.hulu.com/inauguration

Joost - Live video stream http://www.joost.com/Obama_Inauguration_Live

Ustream - Multiple live video streams http://www.ustream.tv/channel/barack-obama-inauguration-day-live. Ustream has also developed an iPhone application specifically for viewing the inauguration: Watch the Inauguration Live on the iPhone with Ustream

LinkLive - One of the content providers for Ustream's coverage http://www.ustream.tv/channel/link-live-inaugural-web-gala

Mogulus - Multiple live video streams from C-SPAN, Democracy Now, The Real News, USA Today, and more: http://www.mogulus.com/blog/?p=911

Qik - Live video from NowPublic, BBC, CBS, Houston Chronicle, and more: http://qik.com/event/1224/obamas-inauguration-2009

YouTube: Special Inauguration Channel: http://youtube.com/inauguration

Democracy Now: Live video stream at http://democracynow.org

2. PHOTOS

Official Obama Inauguration Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inauguration

Flickr Meetup - Flickr members, photographers amateur and pro alike will be assembling in Washington for the events. Here's more on the meetup: http://blog.flickr.net/en/2009/01/07/inauguration-day-meetup-in-dc and here http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1467839/

Flickr Inauguration 2009 Group - There's also a Flickr photo group to add your pics to: http://www.flickr.com/groups/inauguration2009/

New York Times - Check out an excellent multimedia collage of NYT readers' inauguration photos and videos http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/18/us/politics/inauguration-photos.html

3. TWITTER

The microblogging service has exploded in popularity and presence since the U.S. election last fall and a huge volume of inaugural tweets are being shared across the site.

Obama Official Inauguration Twitter Stream: http://twitter.com/obamainaugural

Trending topics: Use http://search.twitter.com to track trending inaugural hashtags including #inaug09 and #inauguration. Other services like TweetGrid also offer a consolidated view of several topics at once: TweetGrid Inauguration 2009 - or Monitter also allows real-time monitoring of up to 3 different topics: http://www.monitter.com/

NowPublic Scan: We're tracking trends, terms, popular links, and locations using our Scan tool. Check out the geo-located, real-time results here: Obama Inauguration Scan

4. SOCIAL MEDIA

Elsewhere online, social media sites are gearing up for an expected crush of user-generated activity, interaction, and uploads. But, as Jennifer Leggio at ZDNet asks, can social networks handle it?

NowPublic's Featured Coverage: Our comprehensive coverage of the events with liveblogging, photos, video, resources, microblogging content and much more. Tag your content with "Obama+Inauguration" to have it appear in the Obama Inauguration channel.

Facebook: In partnership with CNN, Facebook is organizing a massive online event to parallel the real-world proceedings. RSVP and participate here: http://www.facebook.com/cnn

CNN "The Moment": In partnership with Photosynth, CNN crowdsourced thousands of user/viewer photographs and morphed them into one huge 3D image of the swearing-in ceremony. Pretty incredible (and infinitely better than their election night holograms): http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/themoment

Tumblr: The Presidential Inauguration Committee has partnered with the microblogging site Tumblr to allow users to post and share content across the media site. http://www.pic2009.org/blog/entry/tumblr and follow/contribute to the inaugural posts here: http://inauguration.tumblr.com/

Current/Twitter: Al Gore's cross-media venture, the online television network Current has partnered with Twitter for live/microblogging coverage from both sites.

NPR: Leave it to National Public Radio (in partnership with CBS News and American University) to offer a bold experiment in using social media from a variety of platforms to bring together user-generated content related to the inauguration. NPR's featured coverage page is at http://www.npr.org/news/specials/inaug09 — and check out their interactive project http://www.inaugurationreport.com complete with embeddable, geo-located widgets (oh wait, we have that too!).

Obama | Alltop: Guy Kawasaki's Alltop offers a single-page source for all sorts of top news on Obama and the Inauguration. Check it out at http://obama.alltop.com

TheUptake: Citizen media coverage that will include live video and photos http://theuptake.org

Avaaz: Activist social media site offers multiple user-generated, live video streams, rolling live-updated comments, photo gallery, maps, and more at Avaaz Obama Inauguration Hub

5. TV NETWORKS - ONLINE

Many of the major American television networks have created featured coverage pages that include an assortment of reporting and multimedia content. It will be interesting to see how they are able to compete with online and social media sites who are able to provide real-time interactive content.

CNN: Live video and live coverage at http://www.cnn.com/live plus a social networking project in partnership with Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cnn

C-SPAN: Extensive coverage, 4 live video streams, and inauguration hub http://www.c-span.org/politics/c-span-inauguration-hub.aspx

MSNBC: Live video (even streamed live from Starbucks outlets) and featured coverage at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27721638/

Fox News: http://inauguration.blogs.foxnews.com/

ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/politics/president44

CBS: Live video and webcast http://www.cbsnews.com/inaugurationcast

BBC: UK broadcaster offers featured coverage and live video at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/americas/2008/obama_presidency/default.stm

CBC: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has live video http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/obama-inauguration/debates/

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recommend This comment thread is now closed

Terri Potratz

at 12:25 on January 19th, 2009

Fantastic!

What about inaugural ball, will most of these resources be streaming coverage of that as well? Clearly I am anxiously anticipating Michelle Obama's gown...

Jenga (not verified)

at 11:34 on January 20th, 2009

Hi all. Wondered if anyone knew where the video itself of the inauguration would be found. Right now I'm only finding live feed. Will there be a way to rewatch the inauguration?

Gringo44

at 13:16 on January 19th, 2009

Global News in Canada will also be streaming live special coverage hosted by Kevin Newman. There will also be an interactive live blog and a complete video archive: http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/national/Inauguration09/index.html

Jennings David L

at 15:03 on January 19th, 2009

Good summary on where to watch the historic events planned for tomorrow.

lefty_liberated

at 16:03 on January 19th, 2009

thank you.

con10t

at 16:08 on January 19th, 2009

TY!

Albert Milliron

at 16:29 on January 19th, 2009

Thanks for the many ways to watch the action

Sydney Jameson (not verified)

at 16:34 on January 19th, 2009

You can also watch the Inauguration here: http://www.sodahead.com/political/inauguration-live/

Virtuosic

at 16:49 on January 19th, 2009

Crowd at Martin Luther King walk showing the pride of their community and the appreciation of the new president.

Virtuosic has contributed a photo to this story.

Fripouille

at 16:59 on January 19th, 2009

My congratulations to America and the new President, and may I also express my admiration for the elegance and mutual respect shown by both democrats and republicans at this historic moment.

(An envious European)

Have fun you guys, you deserve it!!!!

caj1

at 18:03 on January 19th, 2009

Great list! Thank you!

James H (not verified)

at 18:49 on January 19th, 2009

Wonderful, wonderful America.... As a Canadian cousin I can't think of one time in my life that the world is looking at America with hope for Peace and positive possibilities. As Americans, maybe you can't see the world wide sense of unease and possible disdain that anything with the US used to be automatically met with. But somehow with the election of Barack Obama a new set of possibilities has opened. Don't let this opportunity pass without fulfilling what could be the greatest new direction in Politics in US history. Embrace the different cultures, respect others religions and learn from past mistakes. Be strong for the Environment and the Earth, try to make decisions that carry us into a better future and one which our children can find peace and a strong connection with our planet. Be your best possible selves, make decisions not based on money or alliances but on hope and possibilities. We are looking to you to set the highmark for world policies and compassion at the same time. It may be daunting but we believe its all possible. And we Canadians apologize for Harper in advance he is going to be abit confused without Bush there to pull the strings.

duo

at 19:45 on January 19th, 2009

Obama has a big job to bring justice and constitutional protections back to Americans.

I just discovered my COCHRAN FIRM FRAUD VIDEO 1 was deleted from the Internet at YouTube.

I have freedom of speech and freedom of press, but neither is protected in America.

See Cochran Firm Fraud 2 before they take it down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ5d_wju2M8&feature=related

Mary Neal
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com

158

at 20:24 on January 19th, 2009

I have never watched one of these and will not watch this one. They are boring. I just hope it all goes smoothly with no problems.

Uwe Paschen

at 20:31 on January 19th, 2009

Thank you. Great Posting.

dvmsen (not verified)

at 22:04 on January 19th, 2009

WATCH BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION LIVE ONLINE:

http://usalivenews.blogspot.com/

kemeny_x (not verified)

at 03:42 on January 20th, 2009

I wont miss this! thanks for the resources .. :-I

Erik Britt-Webb (not verified)

at 06:56 on January 20th, 2009

In the online video section, you should also include http://www.cnn.com/live

Jarrett Martineau

at 07:57 on January 20th, 2009

Thanks, it's included in the Television Networks section!

CMD (not verified)

at 07:26 on January 20th, 2009

Great job with the list and thanks for having the fore-sight and action to provide the resources that will sure serve a large number of people on this historic day.

We will promote this page. ;)

the park (not verified)

at 08:12 on January 20th, 2009

congratulation´s for king black men your

dvmsen

at 09:08 on January 20th, 2009

5 Best Ways to Watch the Obama Inauguration Online:

http://usalivenews.blogspot.com/

drey (not verified)

at 10:25 on January 20th, 2009

Full video of inauguration and party from CNN web-site:
watch here

ThomasF (not verified)

at 10:45 on January 20th, 2009

The streams sucked here at work.

Does anyone know where I can watch the ceremony online when I get home tonight? I'd prefer to watch the full video, with no commentary, but I'll take what I can get.

Esther Sarlo (not verified)

at 14:05 on January 20th, 2009

This is a link from which to watch the entire inaugural speech with no added commentary. Enjoy!!

http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/politics/1194811622221/index.html

AmaniM (not verified)

at 23:08 on May 19th, 2009

Last year’s election has been historical for it was the first time that we have elected a black president. This is a good sign that we no longer classify people according to their color but we now more concern to the capacity of the person to bring change to our country. But still, Pres. Obama need to prove that it is worthy to vote for him. Right now our country is in the midst of economic crisis. Lots of people are relying for financial assistance like credit cards. It’s a good thing that the CRL takes a stance with what resembles a common sense approach; a call to action regarding something to do with the problem. (Now we have to deal with the horsemen, the rain of fire, and the end of days.) The CRL, or Center for Responsible Lending, has taken aim at credit cards by sponsoring HR 627, or the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. The Credit CARD Act, as it's called, could ensure more fairness in how card companies deal with customers, and limit things like hidden fees and retroactive interest rate increases. President Obama is on board. The CRL not going after installment loans and targeting an actual predatory lender – it's about time.