The Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks will be live streamed on Facebook for the first time this year, giving millions more viewers around the world a chance to see the spectacular display in real time.
The 2016 midnight firework display will reach a potential global audience of more than 10 million Facebook followers, further strengthening Sydney’s position as the New Year’s Eve capital of the world.
The City of Sydney has brought together broadcast partner the ABC and peak tourism bodies Tourism Australia and Destination NSW to live stream the world’s most famous firework show.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomed the opportunity to further promote Sydney as a world-class global city and tourism destination.
“Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world, attracting one million spectators along the Sydney Harbour foreshore and reaching an estimated televised global audience of one billion.
“By making the most of digital technology only available this year, we can put Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show in the palm of people’s hands around the world – right as it happens.
“The City is thrilled to be working in partnership to showcase our beautiful city. I look forward to sharing this night with Sydneysiders around the harbour, people across the country and Aussie expats around the world who can experience Sydney New Year’s Eve live with us.”
NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres said the live stream will see the famous harbour broadcast to a huge global audience.
“Sydney is at its best on New Year’s Eve, and live streaming our incredible fireworks across the world will showcase the very best of this amazing city to potential visitors everywhere,” Mr Ayres said.
Richard Finlayson, Director of Television, ABC TV revealed that for the first time audiences can watch the broadcast in HD and on ABC iview. Both the family fireworks and midnight fireworks will be streamed live on the ABC Facebook page.
“The ABC is delighted to be partnering with the City of Sydney to bring the fantastic New Year’s Eve celebrations to Australians all over the country. We hope audiences will enjoy counting down the biggest night of the year with us wherever they are,” Mr Finlayson said.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan, said this was unprecedented exposure for the City of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve event.
“This has the potential to put Sydney on the map like never before and provide millions of people around the world with front row seats at the planet’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“It’s an opportunity for us to leverage a unique tourism promotion on a truly global scale.”
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks generates more than $130 million annually for the NSW economy and new research shows Sydney’s world class events are a major drawcard for overseas visitors.
According to leading research analysts, Stollznow, half those attending the 2015 Sydney New Year’s celebrations had travelled from the US, China, UK, Germany and other parts of Europe.
The statistics showed more than 46 per cent of the spectators around Sydney Harbour had travelled from overseas specifically to attend the event, staying in Sydney for an average of 7.4 nights.
In addition, almost 90 per cent of visitors in Sydney during New Year’s Eve said they came specifically for the event and had attended it several times in previous years.
Audiences can watch the live stream of the Welcome to Country, the 9pm fireworks and the midnight fireworks on Sydneynewyearseve.com, the one-stop shop for planning your night on the harbour, at home or across the globe.
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Belinda Wallis 02 8974 4153 or email bwallis@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Paul Mackay. 0432 182 647 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.