2000 Today

"2000 Today" was an internationally-broadcast television special commemorating the beginning of the Year 2000. This program included New Year's Eve celebrations, musical performances, and other features from participating nations.

Most international broadcasts such as Olympic Games coverage originate from a limited area for worldwide distribution. "2000 Today" was rare in that its live and taped programming originated from member countries and represented all continents.

History

"2000 Today" was conceived as part of the so-called Millennium celebrations, given the numerical significance of the change from 1999 to 2000.

The program was produced and televised by an international consortium of 60 broadcasters, headed by the BBC in the UK and WGBH in the US. The BBC provided the production hub for receiving and distributing the dozens of international satellite feeds required for this broadcast.

The program's theme song was a version of Bob Marley's song "One Love" performed by The Gipsy Kings, Ziggy Marley, Tsidii Le Loka and the Boys Choir of Harlem. Sony released a soundtrack CD for "2000 Today" which included this song plus "A World Symphony for the Millennium" by Tan Dun.

Most nations that observe the Islamic calendar were not involved in "2000 Today". However, a few predominantly Muslim nations were represented among the programme's worldwide broadcasters such as Egypt (ETV) and Indonesia (RCTI).

Africa was minimally represented in "2000 Today". The only participating nations from that continent were Egypt and South Africa. Portugal-based RTP Africa distributed the program to some African nations.

Antarctica was mentioned on the program schedule, although it was unclear if 2000 Today coverage was recorded or live.

Program timeline

"2000 Today's" core international broadcast was almost 26 hours long, following the beginning of the New Year 2000 across the world's time zones.

The program was tailored by individual broadcasters to provide local content and hosts.

The international broadcast began 31 December 1999 approximately 09:30 UTC. 2000 Today went international at 09:40 UTC, with the Kiribati Line Islands celebrating the arrival of 2000 at 10:00 UTC.

Most of Europe celebrated midnight on 31 December 1999 23:00 UTC. Broadcasting celebrations from many countries under Central European Time posed a particularly complex broadcast challenge. "2000 Today" chose to rapidly air each nation's midnight observances in succession, using tape delays in most cases. This hour of the broadcast included a blessing by Pope John Paul II from Vatican City.

"2000 Today's" international feed ended shortly after midnight celebrations were broadcast from Samoa on 1 January 2000 at 11:00 UTC. BBC One in the United Kingdom continued its broadcast with national features until 13:30.

Personalities

National hosts

* Canada
**(CBC)
*** Peter Mansbridge (primary host, most hours)
*** Laurie Brown (00:00-08:00 UTC, with Mansbridge)
*** Alison Smith (13:00-18:00 UTC)
**(Radio-Canada)
***At the time, technicians at Radio-Canada were on strike. Transmissions were seen as scheduled, but using only the main feed from the BBC, with a French voice-over. Also, as a consequence, 2000 footage from Canada was scarce on SRC's presentation, while footage from Quebec were not available at all worldwide (though the CBC did manage to get the only Quebec coverage on their own network -- a video shot of midnight fireworks in Hull, Quebec, shot from Ottawa, Ontario).

* United States (ABC)
** Peter Jennings

* United Kingdom (BBC One)
** David Dimbleby
** Michael Parkinson
** Gaby Roslin

* Philippines (GMA Network)
** various GMA News and Public Affairs anchors

* Estonia (TV3)
** Voices of the hosts were heard on the background. There was no studio. Broadcast was without hosts between midnight and 6:00 UTC.
** Ene Veiksaar (9:40-12:00 UTC)
** Lauri Hussar (9:40-12:00 UTC)
** Jüri Aarma (12:00-15:00 UTC)
** Priit Aimla (12:00-15:00 UTC)
** Rein Lang (15:00-18:00 UTC)
** Kiur Aarma (15:00-18:00 UTC)
** Harri Tiido (18:00-21:00 UTC)
** Vello Rand (18:00-21:00 UTC)
** Mart Luik (21:00-00:00 UTC)
** Märt Treier (06:00-09:00 UTC)
** Kätlin Kontor (06:00-09:00 UTC)
** Enn Eesmaa (09:00-11:00 UTC)

Music

The following musical artists were part of the "2000 Today" broadcast "(incomplete list)":

* Ruslana - Kyiv, Ukraine
* Björk - Reykjavík, Iceland: "The Anchor Song" with choir
* Charlotte Church - United Kingdom
* Eurythmics - United Kingdom
* Jean Michel Jarre - performing near the pyramids at Giza, Egypt
* Phish - Big Cypress, Florida, United States
* Split Enz - Auckland, New Zealand (band reunion concert)
* The Tragically Hip - Toronto, Ontario
* Great Big Sea - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
* Natalie MacMaster - Ireland
* Kiri Te Kanawa - Gisborne, New Zealand [http://www.kiritekanawa.org/kiri.shtml]
* Regine Velasquez - Philippines (Performed song "Written in the Sand" atop of The Peninsula Manila in Makati City.)

Participating broadcasters

The following nations broadcast "2000 Today". Some nations were licensees of the broadcast, rather than formal members of the broadcast consortium.

*Argentina: ARTEAR
*Australia: ABC
*Austria: ORF
*Brazil: Rede Record
*Canada: CBC (English) / SRC (French)
*Cape Verde: RTP Africa
*Caribbean: [http://www.caribunion.com CBU]
*Chile: TVN
*China: CCTV
*Czech Republic: ČTV
*Denmark: DR, TV3
*Egypt: ETV
*Estonia: TV3
*Fiji: [http://www.fijitv.com.fj Fiji TV]
*Finland: YLE
*France: TF1
*Germany: RTL
*Greece: ERT
*Guinea-Bissau: RTP Africa
*Hong Kong: Phoenix (PST)
*Hungary: MTV
*Iceland: IBC
*India: Doordarshan
*Indonesia: RCTI
*Ireland: RTE
*Israel: IBA, ICP
*Italy: RAI
*Japan: TV Asahi
*Jordan: JRTC
*Lebanon: MTV
*Lithuania: TV3
*Malta: Super One
*Mexico: Once TV
*Mozambique: RTP Africa
*Netherlands: NOS
*New Zealand: TV3
*Norway: NRK, TV3
*Panama: Telemetro
*Paraguay: Telefuturo (licensee)
*Peru: Panamericana Televisión
*Philippines: GMA Network
*Poland: TVP
*Portugal: RTP
*Romania: Antena 1 (licensee)
*Russia: Prometey AST
*Samoa: Samoa TV
*Sao Tome and Principe: RTP Africa
*Singapore: TCS (possibly also Channel News Asia)
*Slovakia: Luna TV (licensee)
*Slovenia: POP TV (licensee)
*South Africa: SABC
*South Korea: MBC
*Spain: TVE
*Sri Lanka: MTV
*Sweden: TV3, SVT
*Switzerland: SF-DRS
*Taiwan: PTS
*Tonga: "broadcaster unknown"
*Ukraine: Novy Kanal (New Channel, licensee)
*United Kingdom: BBC
*United States: ABC, WGBH / PBS
*Uruguay: Panamerica
*Venezuela: RCTV

ee also

*ABC 2000 Today, the commercial American broadcast
*Millennium Live
*New Year's Eve
*Year 2000

External links

* [http://www.abc.net.au/2000/tv/schedule.htm ABC (Australia) "2000 Today" page]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/news/news118.htm BBC Press Release announcing "2000 Today"] , 6 October 1998
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/news/news176.htm BBC Press Release on Year 2000-related broadcasts] , 14 July 1999
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/546386.stm BBC News report on "2000 Today" details] , 2 December 1999
* [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/599172?view=synopsis BFI Film & TV Database: "2000 Today"]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-69-1998/life_society/y2k/ CBC archive of New Year's Eve 2000]
* [http://www.2000todaymusic.com "2000 Today" soundtrack information from Sony]
* [http://www.egypt2000.com/tdots/ The Twelve Dreams of the Sun - Jean-Michel Jarre performance in Egypt]