CNN claims that "American Morning," its flagship news program, is seen in more than 86 million households in the U.S. Here in Japan through CNNj, a partnership between CNN and Japan Cable Television, it may be seen in over 5 million households. This year marks the 20th anniversary of CNN's first live broadcast to Japan. Now CNN's popular morning show is traveling outside the U.S. to focus on Japan.
Beginning on Monday, "American Morning" in Japan is scheduling programs of special reports and interviews. The show is to go out live from Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. Since the programs will be broadcast simultaneously to audiences in the U.S. and Japan, "American Morning" will be shown here on weeknights from 9 to midnight.
Coanchor Bill Hemmer is in Tokyo to host the show for its first three days. His cohost, Soledad O'Brien, takes care of "American Morning" from its studio in New York. Excitement builds for Bill as he considers the interviews he will conduct with newsmakers in Japan. With CNN's Tokyo correspondent Atike Shubert, he plans to go beyond current news topics to report on implications of the U.S.-Japan alliance, social and cultural issues and to include features on the Imperial family.