The fireworks with the original soundtrack in 50fps glory:
I noticed a few comments while the fireworks were going commenting that the music played during the fireworks was shit, but I think they must have been watching the international feed which went onto the ABC’s Facebook and Youtube streams and via the City of Sydney’s website…both had some kind of royalty free music going with the fireworks.
Full soundtrack listings are below. Both 9PM and Midnight displays are listed.
For a former chairman, it’s strangely odd that Maurice Newman seemingly now never misses an opportunity to attack the ABC in The Australian
FFS. A rock star makes an offensive (to some) gesture. Clutch the pearls! What is this, the 1950s?
For a newspaper whose columnists bang on about defending free speech it seems that free speech is only meant to flow one way. Incredibly glass jawed the lot of them.
Maurice Newman is a far right guy who writes for The Spectator, he have been chair but isn’t to be trusted when it comes to ABC and anything political
The ABC has thanked Australians for donating more than $13 million to its joint appeal with the Red Cross to help communities impacted by the ongoing bushfires.
The New Year’s Eve donation drive by the ABC, Red Cross and City of Sydney will fund disaster relief and recovery programs, including support for people at evacuation centres and cash grants for those who have lost homes in the bushfires.
In total, Australians gave $13.3 million to the donation drive, between New Year’s Eve and midnight on 4 January, to help the Red Cross support people in need in disasters, whenever and wherever they happen, including the current bushfires in NSW and Victoria and for future emergencies.
The Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund remains open and donations can still be made at any time via redcross.org.au. The overall amount raised by the fund since New Year’s Eve, including the ABC donation drive, is more than $23 million.
Judith Whelan, ABC Director of Regional & Local, said: “Thank you to everyone who gave generously to help communities affected by the bushfire crisis. The scale and severity of the disaster is overwhelming and your donations will bring support and solace to Australians at a time of great need. Thank you also to the Red Cross and the emergency services teams, volunteers and organisations who are helping to keep people safe and well during this long and fierce fire season.”
Noel Clement, Red Cross Acting Chief Executive, said: “The funds raised mean we can ramp up our response and recovery work and expand our emergency grants. This fund has already helped us support people at evacuation centres, recovery hubs and over the phone when disasters strike. It’s now providing cash grants to people who have lost their homes in the recent bushfires, so they can meet everyday expenses. It helps our emergency volunteers get to disaster-affected areas, covers their expenses and funds equipment and training. It means we can be there whenever a disaster strikes and stay afterwards to help people and communities recover.”
Clover Moore, Sydney Lord Mayor, said: “We did not make the decision to go ahead with the New Year’s Eve display lightly and those suffering from the impacts of the bushfires were front of mind through the event. Reminders to donate to the bushfire appeal and tributes to our brave firefighters were projected onto the Harbour Bridge pylons and broadcast throughout the ABC’s sensitive live coverage. Thank you to everyone who gave so generously, these donations ensure the Red Cross can support communities in the wake of bushfire disasters.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said today that this year’s NYE fireworks display would be on a smaller scale and the public would be locked out of the vantage points in the Sydney CBD.
Access to the CBD will be restricted to people with bookings to city restaurants, pubs and clubs. Designated viewing areas that usually attract tens of thousands of people will be reserved for healthcare and frontline workers holding tickets to attend.
The fireworks will still be shown live on TV but will only last “a couple of minutes”.
The NSW Government has temporarily taken over management and operation of NYE fireworks from the City of Sydney council for this year.
There are plenty of vantage points that are not in the CBD and around North Sydney where people gather to watch the fireworks. Timbrell Park at Five Dock is an example. I wonder if and how the government and local councils will control groups of people gathering in other locations.
If they really wanted to, there are ways. 
The NSW Government has confirmed on the NYE website that the midnight fireworks will be shown on the ABC. It will be interesting what the broadcaster’s coverage will be like this year, although I am sure it won’t be as long as the four-hour event in 2019.
Without the 9pm family fireworks, i also think that the coverage will be shorter.
Unless they extend “The Weekly (Yearly) with Charlie Pickering” and simialar yearly type shows into longer running episodes. Perhaps?
They’ll have both The Yearly and a special Mad as Hell they could replay on NYE
Coverage will probably start at 9:00pm with all the fluff, then kick-off the concert at 10:00pm if that’s happening this year.
Something else ABC could do is cross live to all the capitals for some coverage. Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Hobart etc…
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Thursday December 31 8:30pm
ABC has reveled:
The ABC will be broadcasting live from the Opera House boardwalk in Sydney and also in Melbourne from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, to ring in the new year and bring you a night of music, fun and fireworks.
So they are doing the fireworks this year?
Yes, as NSW Government said last month. From its NYE website:
There will be a short firework display from Sydney Harbour Bridge at midnight only. This will be broadcast live on ABC TV, allowing you and your friends or family to watch from home.
Thursday 31 December
The ABC will be broadcasting live from the Opera House boardwalk in Sydney and also in Melbourne from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, to ring in the new year and bring you a night of music, fun and fireworks.
For many Australians, for all different reasons, 2020 has been a difficult and challenging year. In a year of continual uncertainty, one thing is assured, the ABC will say goodbye to 2020, as it started it – celebrating across the country and ringing in the new year with music, fun and fireworks.
Kicking off at 8:30pm is a special family-friendly show hosted by Rove McManus, Kiki Masella and Chenelle Carr which culminates in a highlight of fireworks displays from years gone by.
At 9pm hosts Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering will present a stunning line up of musical talent from two iconic Australian locations - the boardwalk of the Sydney Opera House and from Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
7:30pm The Yearly With Charlie Pickering 2020
Charlie and the Weekly team emerge from their plague bunker to wrap 2020. Was it the worst year
ever? Have you washed your hands? Can we even remember what happened in January? All will be
revealed… from a safe distance. Rpt
8:30pm New Year’s Eve 2020: Early Night Show
9:10pm New Year’s Eve 2020: We Are One
11:45pm New Year’s Eve 2020: Countdown To Midnight
12:00am New Year’s Eve 2020: Midnight Fireworks
Thursday 31 December 8.30pm
ABC Children’s 2020 New Year’s Eve celebrations are back with a variety show full of bling and zing, hosted by the one and only Rove McManus. The evening will also feature musical acts and a few surprise guest appearances to lead into the ABC’s NYE program hosted by Charlie Pickering and Zan Rowe.
ABC gearing up to welcome the new year
For many Australians, 2020 has been a challenging year. In a time of great uncertainty, one thing is assured, the ABC will unite all Australians in saying goodbye to 2020 and celebrating across the country. The theme for the evening is We Are One and broadcasting the annual New Year’s Eve show live from the Opera House in Sydney and Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the ABC will bring us all together for a night of music, fun and fireworks.
Kicking off at 8:30pm is a special family-friendly variety show hosted by Rove McManus, Kiki Masella ( Grace Beside Me ) and Chenelle Carr featuring a fireworks display of highlights from years gone by. Later in the evening, hosts Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering will introduce a stunning line-up of Aussie talent and musical performances.
Headlining the musical entertainment from Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, we’ll be joined by legend Paul Kelly performing a concert length set of songs from his beloved catalogue with some very special guests. From the Sydney Opera House, indie-pop singer-songwriter Amy Shark will take to the stage fresh from her ARIA win. Joining the night’s line-up after releasing one of the biggest albums of the year are indie rockers, the DMA’S and the Sydney Harbour backdrop will be the perfect setting for folk-electro singer Vera Blue’s graceful tones. Blues-rock band the Teskey Brothers will then serenade their hometown of Melbourne with their sublime soul sound. Reigning queen of New Year’s Eve Casey Donovan returns for what has become an annual tradition and there will be a heartfelt tribute to Helen Reddy from rising star Odette. Multi-instrumentalist Ben Lee will open the concert by reminding us we’re all in this together.
At midnight, and in collaboration with NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, the night sky will light up with a live firework display as we say goodbye to 2020 and welcome to the New Year.
A limited audience will join us at the Sydney Opera House. This “local hero” audience is made up of people nominated by their community as having made a real difference through these tough times. Nominate your local hero here: Microsoft Forms
Like Carols by Candlelight this Christmas Eve, the NYE concert at Sidney Myer Music Bowl won’t be open to the public.
