One Direction primetime TV special coming Dec. 23

Merry Christmas, One Direction fans. The British heartthrob quintet is getting its first primetime TV special, cannily titled “One Direction: The TV Special” at 8 p.m. Dec. 23 on NBC.

Perhaps even more noteworthy, NBCUniversal is opening several of its outlets to the group in conjunction with the release of the group’s fourth album, cannily titled “Four.” One Direction also will be featured on NBCUniversal’s “Access Hollywood,” “E! News” and Telemundo’s morning show “Un Nuevo Dia.”

It’s all part of “an exclusive partnership spanning multiple brands and platforms” that began Sept. 8 with the group’s appearance on NBC’s “Today” show to announce the album’s Monday release date.

Band members Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne are slated to be part of interviews and news segments on those shows, while other NBCUniversal-owned properties, such as Universal Studios Orlando, will promote the band and the album with rides and various special events.

One Direction will perform live on the “Today” show and on “Un Nuevo Dia” on Monday.

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