Hawai'i broadcasters are banking that Barack Obama, who inspired unprecedented voter participation across a broad swath of minority populations in November, will be just as powerful a draw on inauguration day.

All four major network affiliates will carry live feeds from the event, as well as extended news coverage and specials throughout the day and night.

Some local radio stations also will carry live reports and commentary.

To date, the president-elect has been ratings gold for broadcasters. His acceptance of the Democratic Party nomination in August, for example, drew an estimated 38 million viewers nationwide — more than the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, the 2008 Oscars and last year's season finale of "American Idol."

A Rasmussen poll last week found that 75 percent of U.S. voters plan to watch at least part of Obama's inauguration live Tuesday; 28 percent intend to watch the entire event.

"Pretty high," said KHON-2 general manager Joe MacNamara of local interest in watching the event. "I think it's three-fold: There's the Obama connection here; the inauguration itself, which people will probably gravitate to; and, more than that, the state of where the nation is right now.

"This could be a historic turning moment in our nation and in the world."

The Fox affiliate will start its coverage at 4 a.m. and continue through the ceremony. Its CW 93 counterpart will carry KHON's regular morning news programming from 5 to 8 a.m. before switching to Fox for the last half-hour of the ceremony. It also will provide full coverage of the parade.

"We should be able to catch the Punahou kids coming through," MacNamara said.

KITV will offer the most extensive coverage via ABC News, which will provide live reporting from 2 a.m. to noon, coverage of the "neighborhood ball" in Washington that Obama is hosting and that is open to ordinary people (7 to 9 p.m.), and an ABC News special (9 to 10 p.m.).

Kaimuki residents Earl and Linda Chang plan to catch at least part of the festivities on TV, and they'll have their ears perked for any mention of Hawai'i.

"I hope to hear a lot of island references," said Earl Chang, 57. "There's all this back and forth between Chicago and Hawai'i, but that's OK. He might be Chicago's favorite son, but he's Hawai'i's native son."

Kimo Carvalho, 30, a mechanic from 'Ewa Beach, has had his mind on other things, but he, too, intends to watch.

"I forgot about the inauguration," he said, laughing. "I voted for Obama and I'm excited because I think he can make a change for the good."

Ed Roy, a 42-year-old carpenter from the Downtown area, won't see any of the inauguration broadcasts — he doesn't have a TV — but does intend to watch Obama closely over the next four years.

"It's a great thing," Roy said of Obama taking office. "I think he gives us a great chance to turn things around. America will need to sacrifice, but if Obama goes in with everything he's been saying all along, we have a good chance to be a good country again."

INAUGURATION ON THE AIR

TELEVISION

KHON-2

4-5 a.m.: Live Fox coverage

5-6 a.m.: Local news and coverage

6-8:30 a.m.: Live Fox coverage

KHON-DT2 (CW 93)

5-8 a.m.: Local coverage

8-8:30 a.m.: Live Fox coverage

8:30 a.m.-conclusion: Live Fox parade coverage

KHNL-8

5:30-11 a.m.: Live NBC coverage

9-10 p.m.: "Dateline" NBC special

KITV-4

2 a.m.-12 p.m.: Live ABC coverage

7-9 p.m.: Neighborhood ball and inaugural celebration

9-10 p.m.: ABC News special

KGMB-9

4:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Live CBS coverage

4-5 p.m.: CBS News

5-7 p.m.: KGMB News

8-9 p.m.: "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama"

10-11 p.m.: KGMB News

PBS

6 a.m. until conclusion of ceremony: Live PBS News coverage

3:30 p.m.: Re-broadcast

9-10 p.m.: "Frontline: Dream of Obama"

RADIO

Hawai'i Public Radio

KHPR FM 88.1 (O'ahu), KKUA FM 90.7 (Maui/ Moloka'i/Lana'i/North Hawai'i), KANO FM 91.1 (Hilo), 5-8:35 a.m.: Live NPR coverage

KIPO FM 89.3, 8:35-11 a.m.: Continuing live coverage

KHNR AM 690

6-6:30 a.m.: Live locally anchored coverage

6:30 a.m. until conclusion of ceremony: Live Fox News coverage

KHVH AM 830

5 a.m. until conclusion of ceremony: Live Fox Radio coverage

KHBZ AM 990

6 a.m. until conclusion of ceremony: Live Fox Radio coverage