Prince William and Kate Middleton on the box

Networks are finalising plans for their coverage of the television event of the year, The Royal Wedding. International networks CNN, BBC and ITV have planned round-the-clock broadcasts of Kate Middleton and Prince William's big day, and wedding specials screen in the days beforehand.

Here in New Zealand, TVNZ confirms it will be sending Mark Sainsbury to London, where he will broadcast Close Up live on the evening of the wedding. TVNZ will be anchoring One News out of London and will cross to European correspondent Paul Hobbs and journalist Lisa Owen who is already stationed in Britain. TV One will start its coverage of the Royal Wedding at 8.30pm on the night. At 10.30pm it will take live BBC coverage until 1am and will compile a highlights package to run on Saturday, April 30.

TV3 will begin its coverage at 7.30pm, and will go through to at least 11.30pm, hosted by John Campbell, with Hilary Barry reporting live from London. Special guests, including Herald columnist Wendyl Nissen, will contribute to coverage, and the network will screen the ITV live feed from the ceremony, hosted by James Mates.

On CNN, Piers Morgan and Anderson Cooper will broadcast their shows from London in the week leading up to the wedding, and Richard Quest has a weekly special on the wedding starting on April 3. Live coverage on the 29th will run from 7pm until 2am. BBC UKTV screens uninterrupted live coverage from Westminster Abbey on the 29th, and a series following the couple's relationship screens on Vibe on Saturday, April 9 and 7.30pm and Wednesday, April 27 at 9.30pm.

- TimeOut