Networks Unite For Hurricane Aid
On Friday, Sept. 9, CBS and the other broadcast networks will be raising money for Hurricane Katrina relief all day, culminating with a "Shelter From The Storm: A Concert For The Gulf Coast" primetime special.
Phone lines for Hurricane Katrina aid will officially open at 7 a.m. ET during CBS's The Early Show, ABC's "Good Morning America," NBC's "The Today Show," and the local affiliate morning shows on FOX, The WB and UPN.
The phone lines will remain open during the day and will be promoted on such shows as ABC's "The View" and then continue into the network late night programs, including ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "Last Call with Carson Daly."
At various points during these programs, viewers will be advised where they can donate to the relief effort. Participation will vary by program.
All contributions collected from the morning, primetime and late-night fundraising efforts will go to either to the American Red Cross or The Salvation Army, depending on the donor's preference.
As previously announced, musical performers scheduled to appear on "Shelter From The Storm: A Concert For The Gulf Coast" include Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Randy Newman, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart and Neil Young. Celebrity participants include Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Nicholson, Chris Rock, Ray Romano and Sela Ward.
Additional outlets that signed on to carry the "Shelter From The Storm" primetime simulcast, which will be broadcast live (8-9 p.m., ET/CT; tape delayed PT/MT), include AmericanLife TV, CNBC, Court TV, Fox Movie Channel, FUEL TV, Fox College Sports Pacific, GSN, Lifetime, MSNBC, Showtime, SPEED Channel, Style Network and many Infinity Radio stations.
In addition to ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The WB, UPN and PBS Stations, other previously announced outlets include ABC Family, Black Family Channel, Bravo, E!, Fox Reality, FSN Ohio, FSN South, FSN West, FX, G4, Ovation, Oxygen, PAX, SOAPnet, TBS, The Tennis Channel, Trio, TV Guide Channel, TV One, USA Network and WGN.
The special will also be broadcast in more than 100 countries around the world including Latin America, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Taiwan, Asia, India, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Japan, Israel and Iceland.
The event will salute the brave citizens in the devastated areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama while paying tribute to the rescue personnel guiding relief efforts in the region. Joel Gallen, who produced "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon in September 2001, is executive producer of the special.