GB NEWS will broadcast this year's Twelfth parades live - with former DUP leader Arlene Foster as lead commentator.
It is understood the news channel approached the Orange Order about covering the event following the BBC's decision last week to axe its live coverage.
The BBC confirmed that "after careful consideration" it would not run live television coverage of the Twelfth demonstrations. An extended highlights show from eight locations will be aired instead.
GB News announced yesterday that it will provide live coverage, focussing on the largest Orange Order parade in Armagh.
Dame Arlene, a former First Minister and ex-DUP leader, presents a show on the news channel.
She said she was "incredibly proud of GB News for stepping up to fill a void left by the national broadcaster".
"One of the reasons I joined GB News was to bring a better understanding of Northern Ireland life and culture to a wider UK audience," she said.
"GB News stands for inclusion, of all regional voices, and the Orange parades are core to our voice in Northern Ireland."
GB News's Northern Ireland correspondent Douglas Beattie said it will be a challenge to broadcast "at such short notice, but that makes it even more exciting".
He added: "Edited highlights are never the same – you really need live coverage to capture the immediacy, passion and emotion of the Orange parades, so that’s what we'll deliver."
Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson said live coverage of the demonstrations is important to many people.
"We were inundated with calls, many of them from older people who were concerned that they would miss out on this year's parades," he said.
"So I am in no doubt that this announcement will come as a huge boost."
DUP MLA Diane Dodds also welcomed the development.
"The outrageous decision of the BBC to reduce their coverage of the Twelfth demonstration reaffirmed the trend within the broadcaster away from its local audience," she said.
"It stands in contrast to the GB News decision which evidently wants to reach into the unique blend of identities which make up our great United Kingdom."
BBC NI interim director Adam Smyth said last week the decision to axe live coverage was part of efforts "to better and more fully reflect" the Twelfth.
He denied allegations that the BBC was biased against the unionist or loyalist community and said the station "acts in fairness and impartiality".
Orange Order Grand Secretary Mervyn Gibson and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson held a meeting with Mr Smyth and asked him to reconsider.
An Orange Order spokesman said the move was "reached without meaningful discussion or consultation".
He said it was "hard to accept this as anything other than a further snub to the wider Protestant, unionist and loyalist community and our culture".
