132 Copyright © 2016, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Chapter 10 DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-9967-0.ch010 ABSTRACT In a journal article entitled ‘No More Peace!’: How Disaster, Terror and War Have Upstaged Media Events (2007), Elihu Katz and Tamar Liebes ofered a substantial revision of Media Events: The Live Broadcasting of History (Dayan & Katz, 1992). Katz and Liebes included “dark” events in the “media events” concept, distinguishing unexpected, disruptive events from the carefully scripted, integrative events that had been the sole focus of Media Events. They also claimed that disruptive events – like disaster, terror and war – have in fact upstaged more classical media events. In contrast, in this chapter I argue that ceremonial media events - as originally conceptualized by Dayan and Katz in the nineties - are still essential and powerful features of our social lives. First, I present an overview of the “pessimistic turn” of media events research and provide my criticism of it. Second, I discuss three contemporary case stud- ies from three national contexts: the Obama inauguration (2009), the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (2011) and the most recent World Cup (2014). These three events represent the three basic scripts introduced by Dayan and Katz: “conquest,” “coronation” and “contest.” I argue that the selected case studies (and many other events) still bring societies and nations together in our “disillusioned” media environment, providing momentary hope for local and cosmopolitan citizens. INTRODUCTION Daniel Dayan and Elihu Katz’s canonic Media Events: The Live Broadcasting of History (1992) spoke of exceptional, “sparkling” occasions in social life that attract large audiences, receive live television coverage and change the rhythm of regular broadcasting. These events, according to Dayan and Katz, “hang a halo over the television set and transform the viewing experience” (p. 1): they are “high holidays” More Hope! Ceremonial Media Events Are Still Powerful in the Twenty-First Century Julia Sonnevend University of Michigan, USA