2ND UPDATE: Discovery’s Fit & Health and Velocity networks and The Weather Channel will join HBO and the networks of NBCUniversal in airing Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together tonight at 8 PM ET. The list of participating stars also has grown. Kevin Bacon, Mary J. Blige, Tina Fey and Whoopi Goldberg are among those who will join previously announced Christina Aguilera, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and others. NBC.com, Fandango, iVillage, weather.com, nbcnews.com and others plan to live stream the event. When the special concludes at 10 PM ET NBC will air a special Hurricane Sandy-themed edition of Dateline: Rescue And Recovery, anchored by Lester Holt. The latest release follows: 

New York – November 2, 2012 –Multiple television, radio and digital platforms have joined forces with NBCUniversal to broadcast “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,’ a benefit to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy airing tonight, November 2 (8 – 9 pm/ET).

HBO, Discovery’s Fit & Health and Velocity networks, and The Weather Channel are among the networks that will air the live one-hour telethon. They join the networks of NBCUniversal broadcasting the event, which include NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, NBC Sports Network, Style, Syfy and USA.

Multiple NBCUniversal digital properties, including NBC.com, Fandango, iVillage, weather.com, nbcnews.com, and the NBC Owned Television Stations plan to live stream the telethon, along with Xfinity.com/TV, Hulu and over 100 Gannett-owned websites, including usatoday.com. The NBC affiliate television stations also have the option to live stream the telethon on their websites.

Comcast, in partnership with NBCUniversal, is extensively promoting and featuring the benefit to help drive donations to the American Red Cross. In addition to featuring the live stream on Xfinity.com/TV; Xfinity TV customers through the weekend will be able to view the telethon on Xfinity On Demand and the Xfinity TV Player apps for Apple and Android devices. Further promotion will be featured on the Xfinity On Demand platform, as well as Xfinity’s Facebook page, on Twitter, and on the home page of Xfinity.com.

Dial Global Radio, NBCUniversal’s official radio partner, Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio, as well as a number of local radio stations from across the Tri-State area will also simulcast coverage of the event.

Hosted by NBC “Today” anchor Matt Lauer, the telethon will broadcast from the New York studios of NBC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It will air live across the East Coast and tape-delayed on the West coast.

Kevin Bacon, Mary J. Blige, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Joe Perry, Al Roker, Jon Stewart and Steven Tyler are among the latest stars to sign on for the broadcast, joining previously announced performers Christina Aguilera (NBC’s “The Voice”), Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and Sting, and appearances by Jimmy Fallon (NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”) and NBC News’ Brian Williams.

Money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

Following the benefit telethon, at 10pm ET, NBC will air a special Hurricane Sandy-themed edition of Dateline: Rescue and Recovery, anchored by Lester Holt.

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UPDATE: HBO has announced it will join the NBCUniversal networks in presenting the benefit telethon Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together.

NBC Plans Live Hurricane Sandy Telethon With Bruce SpringsteenNEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2012 — In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the networks of NBCUniversal — including NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and USA – will join forces to air a one-hour live benefit telethon, “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” on Friday, November 2 (8-9 pm ET).

Hosted by NBC “Today” anchor Matt Lauer, the telethon will be broadcast from the New York studios of NBC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It will air live across the East Coast and tape-delayed on the West. Additional networks could join the broadcast of the telethon prior to airtime.

Money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

The telethon also will be live-streamed on NBC.com.

The event will feature performances by artists including Christina Aguilera (NBC’s “The Voice”), Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting, and appearances by Jimmy Fallon (NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”) and NBC News’ Brian Williams.

The American Red Cross response to Sandy is very large and will be very costly, affecting a massive area spanning much of the eastern half of the country. Financial donations help the American Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters like Hurricane Sandy. To donate, people can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.