Coverage of Anniversary of D-Day Will Start in France

Extensive television coverage of today’s observance of the 50th anniversary of D-day will begin early this morning.

ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CBS’ “This Morning” and NBC’s “Today” will all be broadcasting from France, covering official ceremonies at Omaha Beach and President Clinton’s speech at the American Cemetery in Colleville.

CNN also plans expansive live coverage throughout the day, plus a half-hour special at 2 p.m., “D-Day Remembrances,” and a special edition of “Larry King Live” from Normandy at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Several programs are being revived to help commemorate the occasion. PBS will rebroadcast “From D-Day to the Rhine,” Bill Moyers’ 1990 report about World War II veterans returning to the sites where they fought, with some new commentary by D-day historian Stephen E. Ambrose (9 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28 and KPBS-TV Channel 15, 5 p.m. on KVCR-TV Channel 24).

At 11:35 p.m. (Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42), ABC’s “Nightline” will trot out a show it did on the 40th anniversary of D-day showing how the invasion might have been covered with the aid of modern technology.

Cable’s American Movie Classics channel offers a D-day festival of films including “Up Front,” “Corvette K-225,” “Decision Before Dawn,” “Away All Boats,” “Hell Is for Heroes,” “Stalag 17” and “In Harm’s Way.”

“Tours of Remembrance: A World War II Journey” airs on the Travel Channel at 7 p.m. The one-hour special accompanies veterans to key sites and landmarks of World War II, including Normandy beaches.