Monday, April 8th, a rare total solar eclipse will happen, and ABC News will be partnering with National Geographic for “Eclipse Across America,” a live broadcast of the phenomena.
The Details
At least 32 million people across America will find themselves in the path of a total solar eclipse, where the moon will completely block the sun, in what will be the last of its kind in the U.S. until 2044.
Spanning 10 cities across North America — from Mazatlán, Mexico, to Houlton, Maine — with each being in 100% totality of the eclipse, “Eclipse Across America” will broadcast from the following locations experiencing the phenomenon firsthand:
- Mazatlán, Mexico – Approximately 2:07-2:11pm EDT with ABC News correspondent Matt Rivers
- Del Rio, Texas – Approximately 2:28-2:32pm EDT with ABC News national correspondent Mireya Villarreal and van Zeller
- Dallas, Texas – Approximately 2:40-2:44pm EDT with “GMA3” co-anchors DeMarco Morgan and ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton and a live check-in with Tafreshi at Frio Cave
- Russellville, Arkansas – Approximately 2:51-2:54pm EDT with ABC News foreign correspondent Maggie Rulli with hundreds of couples saying “I do” at the “Total Eclipse of the Heart” mass wedding
- Carbondale, Illinois – Approximately 2:59-3:05pm EDT with ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee and Isler at Southern Illinois University
- Indianapolis, Indiana – Approximately 3:06-3:09pm EDT with “Good Morning America” weekend co-anchor Gio Benitez at the Indy 500 Speedway
- Cleveland, Ohio – Approximately. 3:13-3:17pm EDT with “Good Morning America” weekend co-anchor Whit Johnson at the Great Lakes Science Center
- Niagara Falls, New York – Approximately 3:18-3:22pm EDT with ABC News meteorologist Rob Marciano and Mittermeier close to the Falls. ABC News multiplatform reporter Reena Roy will be reporting live from this location for ABC NewsOne, the affiliate news service of ABC News
- Burlington, Vermont – Approximately 3:26-3:29pm EDT with Muir and Davis at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
- Houlton, Maine – Approximately 3:32-3:35pm EDT, at one of the last communities in America to see the eclipse
The special will be anchored by “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir and “ABC News Live Prime” anchor Linsey Davis, who will be reporting live from Burlington, Vermont.
Nat Geo talent Mariana van Zeller (“Trafficked”) and Nat Geo Explorers photographer Cristina Mittermeier (“Photographer”), astrophotographer Babak Tafreshi, and astrophysicists Jedidah Isler and Ved Chirayath will be on site to show viewers how to safely observe and photograph eclipses and break down the science and history behind them.
National Geographic has also partnered with Spotify for an Eclipse playlist:
How to Watch
“Eclipse Across America” will simulcast live from 2pm-4pm EDT across multiple Disney linear networks, including ABC, Nat Geo, and Nat Geo WILD, as well as across direct-to-consumer platforms, including Disney+ and Hulu (via the ABC News Live channel).
Viewers will be able to watch the program from anywhere — TV, mobile, computers and more — on ABC News’ 24/7 streaming channel, ABC News Live.
The live event will also be simulcast on social on ABC News’ Facebook, YouTube channel, and TikTok, plus on Nat Geo’s Facebook.
ABC News and Nat Geo say they will produce social-first content to be posted across all platforms during the eclipse.
Audiences can use the hashtag #EclipseAcrossAmerica to post content to their own social feeds throughout the day, which may then be featured on air.
Nat Geo Explorers photographer Cristina Mittermeier will curate photos from National Geographic photographers and Explorers, as well as from people across the path of the eclipse using the hashtag during the live broadcast.
National Geographic also has tip on how to watch and photograph a solar eclipse.
Other Coverage
“Good Morning America” will get viewers ready for the eclipse on Monday morning with a preview of what’s to come, safety tips, the economic impact, and the unique ways people are marking the celestial event.
“GMA3” will air a special live preview with Morgan and Dr. Ashton on location in Dallas and with Eva Pilgrim from New York from 1pm-2pm EDT.
“World News Tonight with David Muir” and ABC New Live’s “Prime with Linsey Davis” will both originate broadcasts from Burlington, Vermont.
“Nightline” will give context on the phenomenon from across the country and will showcase the best pictures of the eclipse taken throughout the day.
ABC News Digital will feature robust coverage around the eclipse, including a live blog on ABCNews.com, reporting on how to watch and photograph the celestial event, and a multimedia project profiling the impact of the rare event.
ABC News Radio correspondent Jim Ryan will file reports from the eclipse path in Texas. Plus, ABC News’ flagship daily podcast, “Start Here,” will include reporting and reactions from the ABC News correspondents in the eclipse path the following morning.
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