MTV network has announced that it has partnered with ServiceNation to co-host the “Be the Change Inaugural Ball” for President-elect Barack Obama, on January 20. To be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, the event will be televised live across MTV’s various channels and platforms, including MTV, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, mtvU, MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTV Jams. The exact air times will be announced in the coming weeks.

The announcement by MTV comes as a host of organizations are planning similar inaugural balls in Washington, where more than a million people are expected to be drawn to the nation’s capital for the occasion.

The Viacom Inc.-owned network said the event will celebrate ‘youth-voter turnout and commitment to volunteer service’, and will feature several leading artists, celebrities and government officials, alongside hundreds of young people who have been chosen to attend based on their demonstrated volunteerism.

The live television event will also include live broadcasts from other locations across the globe, where young people are completing major service projects. Leading up to the event, MTV will showcase stories of young people who provide service within their communities, beginning on January 1.

In fact, ServiceNation - an organization that campaigns to increase support for expanding national service programs like the Peace Corps and Americorps - hosted a forum in September, with Obama and Senator John McCain, in which both presidential candidates agreed on the importance of community involvement.

MTV general manager, Stephen Friedman, said: “ServiceNation is the perfect partner for this inaugural event, given that they encompass a broad coalition of youth service organizations. We want to celebrate young people across the nation, those who are working to make changes in their communities and beyond.”