Category: ‘Flagship’ Sydney Spectaculars

ABC, ABC3 & ABC News 24 reached 3.7 million viewers in metro & regional markets across it’s New Year’s Eve (NYE) coverage from 8:30pm last night.

Audiences peaked at 1.9 million for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television’s (ABC TV’s) NYE: Midnight Fireworks on ABC & ABC News 24 (combined metro & regional audience).

ABC TV’s NYE: Family Fireworks at 9pm was watched by 1.3 million on ABC, ABC News 24 & ABC3 (combined metro & regional audience).

In Sydney, 1 in 4 tuned into ABC TV during the coverage last night.

Metro Audiences

• Last night, ABC was the leading channel in the metro markets with a 5 city prime-time share of 16.5%.
• ABC was also the number 1 channel in Sydney with a share of 22.9%.
• ABC TV’s NYE: Midnight Fireworks was the No. 1 program of the night with a 5 city audience of 1.3 million & a total TV share of 51.8%.
• The Family Fireworks at 9pm achieved a 5 city audience of 829,000 (25.3%).

Richard Finlayson, ABC Director Of Television said: “The Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks are an iconic annual event that brings the nation together. ABC is the home of big national moments and celebrations & we’re delighted that our night of family entertainment brought so many people to the party around the country.”

Presented from outside the Sydney Opera House on the foreshores of spectacular Sydney Harbour, ABC TV presented a 4-hour live show, hosted by Eddie Perfect, Justine Clarke & Ella Hooper and featured an amazing line up of family entertainment, comedy & music.

The evening kicked off with a segment especially for kids with Justine Clarke & ABC Kids’s favourites including Hoot and Hootabelle & characters from ‘Play School’ before the winner of ABC3’s ‘Design Your Own Firework‘ competition, Emma Lanzano of Victoria, pushed a giant lever that set the sky alight with the 9pm Family Fireworks display featuring her own unique firework design.

Eddie Perfect & Ella Hooper took us through to midnight with an entertainment extravaganza featuring the annual comedy panel show ‘The 2015 Pub Quiz‘ & an amazing line-up of music from The Falls Music And Arts Festivals across Australia including performances by Birds Of Tokyo, Courtney Barnett, Rufus, Hilltop Hoods, Peking Duk plus many more before the skies over Sydney’s Harbour exploded into a sea of colour as the Midnight Fireworks rang in the new year.

NYE 2015 – 31st December 2015

5 City Metro – Audience (Share %)

1. NYE 2015: MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS (ABC) – 1,331,000 (51.8%)
2. 7 NEWS (7) – 860,000 (26.3%)
3. NYE 2015: FAMILY FIREWORKS (ABC) – 829,000 (25.3%)
4. 9 NEWS (9) – 806,000 (24.6%)
5. 9 NEWS 6:30 (9) – 770,000 (23.6%)
6. 7 NEWS / TODAY TONIGHT (7) – 715,000 (21.9%)
7. NYE 2015: AUSTRALIA WIDE PARTY (ABC) – 689,000 (29.7%)
8. A CURRENT AFFAIR (9) – 552,000 (17.3%)
9. NYE 2015: INCLUDES PUB QUIZ (ABC) – 531,000 (19.2%)
10. CRICKET: BIG BASH LEAGUE GAME 14 – SESSION 2 (10) – 518,000 (18.6%)

_{Source: OzTAM & RegionalTAM overnight data; reach is based on 5 minutes consecutive viewing.}

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up in a blaze of colour last night with more than 2400 fireworks dazzling over a million people gathered around the Harbour.

Special lighting, new pylon projections & a moving ‘Welcome To Country’ illuminated Sydney’s ‘grand old dame’, making the world-famous coat-hanger structure of the Bridge come alive like never before.

Special flora & fauna fireworks celebrated the 200^th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens & 100 years of Taronga Zoo during the 9pm Family Fireworks.

“Once again Sydneysiders showed the world we are the number 1 spot for New Year’s Eve celebrations,” Lord Mayor Of The City Of Sydney, Clover Moore, said.

“Sydney was a magnificent kaleidoscope of colour last night, celebrating our many vibrant & diverse cultures in a fantastic welcome to 2016.”

“As one of the 1st major cities to welcome in 2016, images from last night’s fireworks displays have already been shared around the world on social & traditional media, showcasing our magnificent Harbour & encouraging even more people to visit and celebrate in Sydney.”

Millions of people tuned in to watch the 2 fireworks displays on TV & through a live stream on ‘Telstra Presents’’s YouTube channel. Destination New South Wales estimates the event generates an economic boost of more than $133 million for Sydney businesses.

7th-generation master pyrotechnician, Fortunato Foti, wowed the crowds with 2400 more fireworks than ever before erupting from above, below & through the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Lord Mayor praised the City Of Sydney workers who worked hard through the night to ensure Sydney was sparkling this morning.

“While the revellers went home after a great night’s entertainment, a great team of about 350 City staff collected 60 tonnes of waste to keep the City looking pristine in time for sunrise.”

“The $300,000 clean-up operation involved the use of 65 trucks, sweepers and compactors & an extra 650 mobile rubbish bins which were filled with plastic bottles, paper & food containers.”

For more information & high-resolution images, visit sydneynewyearseve.com or gettyimages.com.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is proudly supported by the ABC, Telstra, Production Resource Group, The Electric Canvas, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, Coca-Cola Amatil, Crown Lager, De Bortoli Wines, El Jimador, Interface, McWilliam’s Wines, The Menzies Sydney, The P.A. People, 2DayFM, APN Outdoor, the Royal Australian Mint & New South Wales Government agencies and landholders including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority & the Sydney Opera House Trust.

The charity partner for Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is Habitat For Humanity Australia.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

It has taken 2 years again but the revolution has arrived…

Every year, you hear it’s ‘bigger and better’ and most years the general public is like ‘they always say that and it’s still the same.’ The problem is is that it IS always getting bigger and better. Here’s a comparison:

2005:

• 2 barges and no Sydney Harbour Bridge usage during the 9pm Family Fireworks
• 4 barges, rows of ground display pontoons and Sydney Harbour Bridge usage during the Midnight Fireworks
• Only 1 Sydney Harbour Bridge sequence during the middle of the Midnight Fireworks
• Parts of Sydney Harbour Bridge used: Upper arch, middle arch, catwalk and outer roadways.

2015:

• 4 barges and Sydney Harbour Bridge usage during the 9pm Family Fireworks
• 6 major barges, 1 minor barge, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House usage during the Midnight Fireworks
• Nearly non-stop Sydney Harbour Bridge sequences during the middle of the Midnight Fireworks
• Parts of Sydney Harbour Bridge used: Upper arch, middle arch, catwalk, lower hangers & inner and outer roadways.

The 2005 display was the 1st 12 minute display and it is still the same duration in 2015. Had the pylons and upper hangers been included in this year’s Midnight Fireworks, it would have been the 1st time in history that all parts of the Sydney Harbour Bridge have been used for pyrotechnics.

As you can see, the display has increased dramatically in size despite perceptions it is still the same as in 1988 (many people who witnessed the 1988 Australia Day display say nothing has yet to top it in size but after watching the footage, the display is actually ‘tiny’ compared to today’s standards). Goes to show how much Sydney Harbour fireworks have changed in 25 years! What would it be like in 25 years time? It is anyone’s guess!

2 years before 1988, in 1986, the Royal Australian Navy put on a fireworks display which saw the first usage of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for pyrotechnics. It was also the debut of the now iconic ‘golden waterfall’ effect. The Navy set the standard – a revolution – which became iconic & mainstream 2 years later in 1988 with the earlier-mentioned 1988 Australia Day display.

Fast forward to 2013 and the Royal Australian Navy raised the bar to extraordinary levels once again with the International Fleet Review Spectacular. Reviews of that display included that it was ‘different and better to NYE’ especially with the inclusion of a narrative. It was also the first combined pyrotechnic-projection-light-soundtrack show on Sydney Harbour. So again 2 years later, in 2015, we expected another revolution and it has now arrived.

• 1st Combined Pyrotechnic/Projection/Light/Soundtrack #SydNYE 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks

The media (as well as the organisers) have been focusing on the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s increased pyrotechnic usage, which unfortunately is the story they produce each year so perception it will be the same will remain but it won’t be the same it will be better with the inclusion of a synchronised projection show (like during the International Fleet Review Spectacular) during the 9pm Family and Midnight Fireworks for the 1st time. The Sydney Opera House won’t be used for projections but the pylons will be so keep a close eye on them. It is expected the pylon projections will be of a kaleidoscopic nature (similar to this year’s logo) rather than detailing a narrative.

Other than the International Fleet Review Spectacular, only during Sydney NYE2008 – ‘Creation”s Acknowledgement Of Country ceremony, has Sydney NYE seen a combined projection/pyrotechnic/soundtrack show – photos of Australian landscapes were projected on the pylons as flares fired from the Bridge & barges to Geoffery Gurrumul Yunupingu’s song ‘Bapa’. A very moving, iconic and emotional display.

• Welcome To Country

The Sydney NYE2008 – ‘Creation”s Acknowledgement Of Country ceremony will be outdone this year. Rhoda Roberts created the display in 2008 and she returns this year after a 4 year absence to create a very moving ‘Welcome To Country’ ceremony. As the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons light up with projections, watch the Sydney Harbour Bridge turn into a giant Aboriginal flag through pyrotechnics including the first use of the hangers since 2003!

• The Hangers Return

They have been used once in 2003 in spectacular fashion and are set for a possible rare encore. The hangers will see a ‘wall’ of fireworks shooting outwards onto the Harbour from the Bridge. They will first feature in the ‘Welcome To Country’ at 8:40pm as part of a massive pyrotechnic depiction of the Aboriginal flag before appearing in iconic style during the Midnight Fireworks!

See the video below at 14:40 to see what I mean!

• Possible Return Of The ‘Stripy Torrent’ Waterfall

This would be a real secret if this comes true but without a Bridge Effect this year, there is more chance than ever that we could see the return of the ‘stripy torrent’ waterfall of the 2004 event (see beginning of the video below). A multi-coloured waterfall has already been confirmed for the 9pm Family Fireworks (and hopefully it doesn’t fire like it did during the 2011 event when the purple section failed to fire though Photoshop soon fixed that).

• A Light Show As A Bridge Effect

It’s been done once before too in 2003 in the similarly themed and fashioned ‘City Of Light’ Sydney NYE event but this light show will run DURING the Midnight Fireworks rather than at the end creating probably the best party atmosphere ever to hit Sydney Harbour! All you need is that fireworks soundtrack to get the tunes pumping!

See the video below at 16:05 to see what I mean!

• The Fireworks Soundtrack

What songs and artists will this year’s fireworks soundtracks contain? Well we still don’t know. It’s NYE and nothing about the fireworks soundtracks content has been revealed, which is the element of the event this year that ties the fireworks, lights and projections all together. It is surely the unsung hero of the event and after the fireworks display itself, we find most people want to know what the music was accompanying it – particularly with a global audience of 1 billion people. Either way, the fireworks look better when you don’t know the nature of the music that is going to be played  – it makes the display more dramatic, magical, adventurous and celebratory. All we know so far is that the producer of the fireworks soundtracks this year is Alex Gooden and it will be synchronised to the lights and projections as well. But if the previous 4 years are anything to go by, the fireworks soundtrack listings will be released after the event and we will publish those listings.

• Biggest Sydney Harbour Bridge Fireworks Display Yet

And last but not least, the most obvious reason –  this year’s display will have the most fireworks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge ever. For Australians, if you look at Channel Nine’s National Nine News, in the background you can see the fireworks on the catwalk on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and trust me, there is HEAPS more fireworks there than usual this year. Sure to be a cracker of a display (pun intended)!

…but now, in 2016, will it stay like this and will the traditional Bridge Effect return?

In what will be one of the most spectacular & moving Sydney Harbour Bridge effects yet, a specially choreographed ‘Welcome To Country’ will be projected on the Bridge’s pylons, making the entire structure a message of hope for 2016.

Red fireworks will cascade off the Bridge like a waterfall while yellow flares erupt through the Bridge & the black night sky hangs above the world-famous ‘coat-hanger’ structure to complete the effect, turning the Bridge into a giant Aboriginal flag.

“I’m thrilled the City is honouring Sydney’s First Peoples with this beautiful ‘Welcome To Country’ that will be watched by millions in Australia & across the world,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“Our theme this year is ‘City Of Colour’ – it’s a recognition of the wonderful diversity of this city & with this powerful ‘Welcome To Country’ we are celebrating the talent, culture & creativity of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”

Rhoda Roberts, the creative director behind the ‘Welcome To Country’, said the imagery includes natural landscapes & the flora and fauna symbols of local clan totems as this cultural practice – a custom of ensuring protection – continues today.

“This year’s Sydney New Year’s Eve ‘Welcome To Country’ celebrates the connection that Australia’s First Peoples have with the land in a way that’s inclusive & fun,” Ms Roberts said.

“It was a challenge to show our ever-adapting culture using contemporary elements like pylon projections & pyrotechnics but I think everyone will be enthralled on the night.”

Nathan Moran, CEO of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) said the organisation was delighted with the ‘Welcome To Country’ on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

“We are deeply honoured & overjoyed that the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebration will have a specific focus on respecting the First Nations Australians of Sydney Harbour – the Gadigal, Wangal & Gamaragal clans of the Eora Nation,” said Mr Moran.

“It’s in the best interests of all Australians to celebrate Australia’s First Nations culture as the heart & soul of a united Australia.”

“The City Of Sydney involved the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council right from the design stage of the ‘Welcome To Country’ & we believe this is a template that all organisations should learn from for effectively working with First Nations people.”

“We believe this Sydney New Year’s Eve will be the most embracing celebration yet.”

Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world, attracting 1 million spectators along the Sydney Harbour foreshore & a global audience of 1 billion.

People coming into the city tonight have a range of tools to help them plan a safe & enjoyable night, including the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour‘ Telstra App and the City’s official Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour‘ website featuring an interactive vantage point map, accessibility & live transport and road closure information.

Those who want to party at home can tune into ABC TV’s broadcast, listen to 104.1 2DayFM’s live fireworks soundtracks or watch the live stream on ‘Telstra Presents’’s YouTube channel.

For up-to-the-minute information on tonight’s celebrations, follow the hashtag #SydNYE & @cityofsydney on Twitter.

For more information on Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour‘, visit sydneynewyearseve.com.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ Fireworks Director, Fortunato Foti, is preparing to delight Sydneysiders with his biggest & most colourful array of Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks yet.

His family may have been making fireworks since 1793 but the 7th-generation master pyrotechnician still has plenty of new tricks up his sleeve this year with 2400 extra firework effects erupting from the Bridge.

This year will also feature never-before-seen fireworks including multi-coloured umbrellas with a glittering centre & a multi-coloured firework waterfall cascading off the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is renowned as one of the largest and most technologically advanced fireworks displays in the world & it just keeps getting better every year,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“With 2400 more fireworks on the Bridge than ever before & a host of exciting new effects lined up, the crowds watching around the harbour & the millions watching at home around the world will be delighted.”

The 9pm Family Fireworks will also see special ‘flora’ & ‘fauna’ fireworks in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens & 100 years of Taronga Zoo. These include butterflies, octopuses, 4-leaf clovers & a bouquet of flowers.

During the 2 Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ fireworks displays – the 9pm Family Fireworks & the Midnight Fireworks spectacular – a crew of 45 will launch 7 tonnes of fireworks including 11,000 shells, 25,000 shooting comets & 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects.

Fortunato Foti said this year’s displays had been the most challenging brief yet, combining pyrotechnics with state-of-the-art projections & Bridge lighting – while ensuring the fireworks are perfectly synchronised with each show’s curated soundtrack.

“This year’s theme is ‘City Of Colour’ which has given us carte blanche to go all out & make this year’s fireworks our most colourful yet,” Mr Foti said.

“Both the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks displays are synchronised to specially chosen soundtracks & the fireworks change as frequently as the music does. Added to that, this year we have special Bridge lighting & pylon projections – it’s been a complicated job but I think it will definitely be worth it on the night.”

“We have never-before-seen fireworks to complement all these exciting Bridge effects & more of them on the Bridge than ever before – so I think everyone will enjoy a spectacular show whether they’re on Sydney Harbour or watching from home.”

Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world, attracting 1 million spectators along the Sydney Harbour foreshore & a global audience of 1 billion.

For more information on Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015: ‘City Of Colour’ – wherever you plan to celebrate it – visit sydneynewyearseve.com.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is proudly supported by the ABC, Telstra, Production Resource Group, The Electric Canvas, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, Coca-Cola Amatil, Crown Lager, De Bortoli Wines, El Jimador, Interface, McWilliam’s Wines, The Menzies Sydney, The P.A. People, 2DayFM, APN Outdoor, the Royal Australian Mint & New South Wales Government agencies and landholders including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority & the Sydney Opera House Trust.

The charity partner for Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is Habitat For Humanity Australia.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Sydneysiders & visitors celebrating New Year’s Eve will be safer this year thanks to an extension of the successful Safe Space & Take Kare Ambassador program.

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, the City Of Sydney’s 6 information booths in the city centre will transform into Safe Spaces where trained Salvation Army Street Team volunteers will administer basic first aid, provide free water, phone and internet access & help vulnerable people get home safely.

This will be the 1st time the initiative, which has been running year-round from Sydney Town Hall & Kings Cross, will operate at locations across central Sydney on New Year’s Eve.

“I’m really pleased this terrific public safety program, which has helped so many young people avoid the risk of late-night alcohol-fuelled violence, will operate on New Year’s Eve,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world, attracting one million spectators along the Sydney Harbour foreshore & we want all of them to have a safe and enjoyable night.”

“The Safe Space & Take Kare Ambassador program helped almost 15,000 young people in its 1st year of operation & the City is proud to be a supporter of this vital initiative.”

“I’m delighted it will be in place to keep people safe at Australia’s largest public celebration.”

Take Kare Ambassadors from The Salvation Army’s Salvo Street Teams will also be out on the town, helping Sydney revellers enjoy the biggest night of the year safely.

“Everyone deserves to have a great night on New Year’s Eve & to come home safely at the end of it,” said Ralph Kelly of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation.

“I’m proud of the work the Take Kare Ambassadors have done throughout the year & am delighted they will be out on New Year’s Eve in even greater numbers to help keep our young people safe from alcohol-related violence.”

Nate Brown, who will be leading the Salvos Street Team on the night said they were proud to be helping more people than ever before on New Year’s Eve.

“We did a lot of good work last year so I’m really happy we’ll be back to help more people than ever to have a better New Year’s Eve experience,” Mr Brown said.

“We help anyone who needs it – whether it’s finding their friends, helping them get back to their hotel when they’re lost or just providing some water & a safe place to sit if they’ve had a bit too much to drink.”

People coming into the city on New Year’s Eve also have a range of tools to help them plan a safe & enjoyable night. These include the Sydney NYE2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ Telstra app & the City’s official Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ website featuring an interactive vantage point map, accessibility & live transport and road closure information.

The Safe Space & Take Kare Ambassador program was set up by the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation in partnership with The Salvation Army & the City Of Sydney. The program provides on-street assistance & a sanctuary for intoxicated young people who are at risk of crime.

It is operated by the Salvos Street Teams in partnership with the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, City Of Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) Government, NSW Police, St Vincent’s Hospital, local community groups, business owners & other service providers.

The program is supported by the City, NSW Government, Macquarie Group Foundation, Crown Resorts Foundation & the Packer Family Foundation.

For more information about volunteering as a Take Kare Ambassador, visit salvos.org.au/streetteams.

For more information about the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, visit thomaskellyyouthfoundation.org.au.

For more information on Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’, visit sydneynewyearseve.com.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is proudly supported by the ABC, Telstra, Production Resource Group, The Electric Canvas, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, Coca-Cola Amatil, Crown Lager, De Bortoli Wines, El Jimador, Interface, McWilliam’s Wines, The Menzies Sydney, The P.A. People, 2DayFM, APN Outdoor, the Royal Australian Mint & New South Wales Government agencies and landholders including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority & the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Media Release: City Of Sydney