The aftermath of the devastating attacks on Paris, France have affected the entire world. Mainstream media handled the tragedy by rearranging scheduling and events out of respect to the victims of the attacks and sensitivity to the current state of international affairs. Grammy-winning band U2 cancelled a massive two-night concert in Paris on November 14–15, but the band now has some very good news for fans: the concert has been rescheduled, and the live HBO special that had been originally for November 15 will now air on December 7.
The band was actually already in Paris during the attacks on November 13, as they were in preparation for the November 14–15 concert. They will be returning for the rescheduled concert to the same venue that had been booked for the original, and the AccorHotels Arena should see as full a house on December 7 as it would have at the earlier show.
Lead singer Bono has been vocal in his support of the people of France and the many ways in which their lives may never be the same after the terrible attacks. There was little doubt even early on that U2 would return to the stage in Paris for a rescheduled concert, but news that HBO subscribers around the world will still be able to experience the concert as intended is a relief for U2 fans who will not be able to attend live.
The U2 concert special is one of the most major television events to be rescheduled due to the Paris attacks, but it is hardly the only one. Shows such as TNT’s Legends, ITV’s Jekyll and Hyde, and CBS’s NCIS: LA and Supergirl all switched around their episodic airings out of respect for the scope of the tragedies. Still, rescheduling a huge public event such as a sold-out concert from a band such as U2, and then coordinating it to air as planned on HBO, is a feat of scheduling that could not have been easy to accomplish.
HBO has aired live concert specials on the same days as the performances for years now, but this was slated to be the first time that U2 would give HBO the rights to an exclusive presentation. The concert will be released simultaneously on HBO streaming services HBO GO and HBO NOW along with the world premiere on the cable network.
The tragedy of the attacks on Paris has not been lessened with the weeks that have passed, but bands such as U2 returning to bring music and entertainment back to the city is a sign of human resiliency of spirit that proves that there are some things that can always endure.
The U2 concert special will air on Monday, December 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO.
