How+to+Watch+the+Wedding

HOW TO WATCH THE WEDDING... When Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married in 1981, more than 750 million viewers watched on TV. That number is inconsequential compared to the number of people who are expected to tune in for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton when they marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29. In fact, more than 35 percent of the world is expected to experience the wedding in one way or another, according to [|The Wall Street Journal]. As many as 2 billion of those people will watch on TV, according to the paper. Up to 400 million more are expected to stream the proceedings online or listen on the radio, and nearly 800,000 are expected to line the streets of London for the wedding, which will begin at 11 a.m. local time. The advent of social media, cable and the Internet can account for much of the increased viewership. Also influential in gaining viewership, however, is the story of Kate Middleton herself. Already a social icon, at 29, Middleton is more self-assured and confident than Princess Diana ever was, according to Barbara Walters. In addition, Middleton's commoner and working-class background appeals to many women. "It really is a Cinderella story and that hits the sweet spot of female audiences," Walters told The Wall Street Journal. For those who are not counted among the 1,900 invited guests, BBC and NBC each will provide live coverage of the event.  [|BBC's coverage], led by anchor Huw Edwards, will begin at 6 a.m. BST. The wedding will begin at 11 a.m. BST. BBC also will stream the event live online at bbc.co.uk/royal wedding.  [|NBC Universal Networks] also have more than 20 hours of coverage planned across an array of channels, including NBCUniversal, NBC News and MSNBC will join msnbc.com, Access Hollywood, Bravo, E!, iVillage, Telemundo and The Weather Channel. On the day of the wedding, coverage will begin at 4 a.m. EDT on CNN and NBC. The British Department of Culture, Media and Sport also has joined in the excitement and has planned to place giant TV screens in Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square for additional viewership. London Mayor Boris Johnson has assisted the division in planning the screen setup for the event. "The royal wedding will be a truly momentous occasion and we want everyone to be able to join in the celebrations," Johnson told [|BBC News] ."This is a fantastic opportunity for London to show the world how we relish our traditions and that we know how to throw a party, as well as being an unrivaled city for culture, cuisine and business."