The 'over-the-top' Royal Wedding coverage: By the numbers
With Prince William and Kate Middleton's vows barely a week away, the media is officially entering frenzy mode. But how much do people really care?

British and American newspapers and TV outlets are readying themselves for a media assault on Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton will finally tie the knot on April 29. But there are signs that the public's interest in the event isn't as high as had been anticipated. One signal of public apathy: NBC cut a number of pretaped segments that were meant to air before the wedding. The problem, says a network source quoted by the New York Post, is that "the U.S. public's interest was not what they thought," because "Kate and Prince William are both really boring." Nevertheless, most outlets' "over-the-top" wedding coverage will go on as planned. Here's a look at the media blitz, by the numbers:
550
Number of people the BBC has assigned to cover the wedding
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
437
Number of people the BBC sent to Beijing's 2008 Olympics
125
Number of people CNN has assigned to cover the wedding
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
2 billion
Number of people expected to watch William and Kate's wedding... at least according to one U.K. minister
200 million
Radio listeners who tuned in to hear Prince Philip marry the future Queen Elizabeth in 1947
750 million
Global TV audience for Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding in 1981
89
Hours of wedding-related shows TLC is airing. Its wedding-week lineup includes Charles and Di: Once Upon a Time and Untold Stories of a Royal Bridesmaid.
184
Hours of coverage the BBC will dedicate to the event, from December 2010 until the wedding. The channel will air a 51.5-hour live, commercial-free broadcast around the actual wedding day.
79
Percent of Britons who said they were "largely indifferent" or that they 'couldn't care less' about the event, according to an ICM poll last month
65
Percent of Americans who said they don't care about the wedding, according to a Vanity Fair/60 Minutes survey taken earlier this year
Sources: Gawker, LA Times, CBC, Monsters and Critics, EW, Yahoo!, Pop Eater, NY Post, Reuters
-
Cameron House Resort & Spa: a luxurious lakeside haven
The Week Recommends This stunning five-star resort on the shores of Loch Lomond is perfect for a special Scottish getaway
-
Albania’s AI government minister: a portent of things to come?
In The Spotlight A bot called Diella has been tasked with tackling the country's notorious corruption problem
-
Hyatt Regency Lisbon: a tranquil oasis in the historic district of Belém
The Week Recommends With its sprawling spa and prime location overlooking the River Tagus, this luxury hotel is a great place to escape the bustle of the city