NBCUniversal networks to air a benefit telethon for Hurricane Sandy relief

Updated Nov. 2, 2012, 3:48pm CT

In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy, the networks of NBCUniversal — including NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and USA Network — will join forces to air a one-hour live benefit telethon called Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together this Friday, Nov. 2, from 8-9pm ET.

Today anchor Matt Lauer will host the event, which will be broadcast from the New York studios of NBC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The telethon airs live across the East Coast and will be tape-delayed on the West. Additional networks may join the broadcast prior to airtime, and the telethon will also be live-streamed on NBC.com.

Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together will feature performances by artists including Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Sting, as well as appearances by Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams.

Money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy. The 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 Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters such as this. 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.

UPDATE: Syfy will be airing the telethon at 11pm ET (not live).

UPDATE: The Weather Channel, along with non-NBC networks HBO, Discovery Fit & Health and Velocity have been announced as networks that will also carry this telethon live. Multiple NBCUniversal digital properties along with NBC.com, including 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.

UPDATE: 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 up for the broadcast.

UPDATE: 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.