Initial release 31 December 1999 First episode date 31 December 1999 | Director Stuart McDonald Cast Jeremy Clarkson | |
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Awards Gemini Award for Best Live Special Event Coverage Nominations British Academy Television Craft Award for Graphic Design Similar Othello, The Man Who Bought M, The People Speak UK, Rupert and the Frog Song, Pitbull's New Year's Revolution | ||
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.
Contents
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.
Up to 5,000 staff worked on 2000 Today, 1,500 of them in BBC Television Centre in West London, where all eight television studios were used during the 28-hour broadcast. 2000 Today had a worldwide audience of 800 million people, with an audience of 12.6 million people on the BBC alone. 2000 Today is estimated to have cost $6 million to produce and broadcast.
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 programme was produced and televised by an international consortium of 60 broadcasters, headed by the BBC in the UK and WGBH in the United States. The BBC provided the production hub for receiving and distributing the 78 international satellite feeds required for this broadcast.
The programme'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 programme to some African nations.
Antarctica was mentioned on the programme schedule, although it was unclear if 2000 Today coverage was recorded or live.
Program timeline
2000 Today's core international broadcast was 28 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 on 31 December 1999 at approximately 09:00 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 at 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 and the pyrotechnic display of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
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.
National hosts
Music
Musical artists were part of the 2000 Today broadcast, including:
Participating broadcasters
The following nations broadcast 2000 Today. Some nations were licensees of the broadcast, rather than formal members of the broadcast consortium.