Login
Login

2000 Today

{{short description|International television special}}

{{EngvarB|date=December 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox television

| image = 2000 Today fire ident.jpeg

| caption = Fire themed variation of the ident

| genre = New Year's television special

| creator = Zvi Dor-Ner

| developer = Zvi Dor-Ner

| presenter = Various (see below)

| starring = Musical artists

| country = {{ubl|United Kingdom|United States}}

| location =

| runtime = {{ubl|28 hours (United Kingdom)|25 hours and 30 minutes (International broadcasts)}}

| executive_producer = {{ubl|Avril MacRory|Peter McGhee|Neil Eccles|Zvi Dor-Ner}}

| network = Various (see below)

| first_aired = {{start date|1999|12|31|df=yes}}

| last_aired = {{end date|2000|1|1|df=yes}}

| related = ABC 2000 (United States)
CBC News 2000 Today (Canada)
Millennium Eve: Celebrate 2000 (Ireland)

}}

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

Most international broadcasts such as the 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 including Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and North America & Oceania.

Development

2000 Today was conceived as part of the Millennium celebrations, given the numerical significance of the change from 1999 to 2000. 2000 Today was commissioned by the BBC as one of the five main millennium projects that were broadcast across TV, radio and online services throughout 1999 and 2000.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/394106.stm|title=BBC News | Entertainment | BBC uncorks its millennium plans|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=14 July 1999|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118125606/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/394106.stm|url-status=live}}

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 (ERTU) 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 África 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.

Production

The programme was produced and televised by an international consortium of 60 broadcasters, headed by the BBC in the United Kingdom and WGBH in Boston, United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/info/news/news118.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060307154808/https://www.bbc.co.uk/info/news/news118.htm|title=2000 TODAY|archive-date=7 March 2006|website=BBC|access-date=13 September 2020}} The editorial board also included representatives from ABC (Australia), CBC (Canada), CCTV (China), ETC (Egypt), RTL (Germany), SABC (South Africa), TF1 (France), TV Asahi (Japan), TV Globo (Brazil) and ABC (USA). The BBC provided the production hub for receiving and distributing the 78 international satellite feeds required for this broadcast. The idents for the programme were designed in the UK by Lambie-Nairn and the BBC for use by all the participating broadcasters taking part in the event. The linking theme throughout all the idents and promotions was a distinctively shaped stone engraved with the year 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greektvidents.com/2000_Today.shtml|title=Greek TV Idents : 2000 Today|website=www.greektvidents.com|date=September 2002|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118050752/https://www.greektvidents.com/2000_Today.shtml|url-status=live}} The themes were: desert, fire, ice, lasers and water; plus a special BBC News ident.{{cite web |url=http://www.2000today.co.uk/ |title=2000today.co.uk |website=www.2000today.co.uk |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031229234906/http://www.2000today.co.uk/ |archive-date=29 December 2003 |url-status=dead}}

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. Each participant financed and produced its own contributions and shared the core costs proportionately to its size and wealth. It is estimated to have cost $6 million to produce and broadcast. 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 was 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).

2000 Today was nominated for "Best Visual Effects and Graphic Design" at the 2000 British Academy Television Craft Awards.{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2000/tvcraft/graphic-design|title=2000 BAFTA Television Craft Awards winners and nominees – Awards database|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)|access-date=4 December 2017|archive-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204223006/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2000/tvcraft/graphic-design|url-status=live}}

Programme 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 programme was tailored by individual broadcasters to provide local content and hosts. There was no in-vision commentary or studio used for the Estonian broadcast and was aired on TV3 without commentary between midnight and 6:00 UTC.

The broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom started on 31 December 1999 at 09:15 UTC. 2000 Today started its international feed at 09:40 UTC, with the Kiribati Line Islands celebrating the arrival of 2000 at 10:00 UTC.

Most of Europe celebrated midnight 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. ABC 2000 Today in the United States and French broadcasters TF1 and France 2 covered the festivities live from the Eiffel Tower. In addition, Italian broadcaster Rai used the pope's blessing for its Millennium - La Notte Del 2000 broadcast.

2000 Today's international feed finished shortly after midnight celebrations were broadcast from Samoa on 1 January 2000 at 11:00 UTC. BBC One in the United Kingdom continued to broadcast with national features until 13:30. Later the same evening, it aired a two-hour highlights programme, The Best of 2000 Today.{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6c85fe1917334f70a8b43bd0d01fcbdc|title=The Best of 2000 Today|date=1 January 2000|issue=3958|pages=78|via=BBC Genome|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118065122/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6c85fe1917334f70a8b43bd0d01fcbdc|url-status=live}}

Personalities

=National hosts=

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2025}}

{{Div col}}

{{Div col end}}

=Music performers=

Musical artists were part of the 2000 Today broadcast, including:

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

;Africa

  • Jean Michel Jarre – Giza pyramid complex, Egypt{{Cite web|url=http://www.egypt2000.com/tdots/|title=Egypt2000.com * The Twelve Dreams Of The Sun * Main Page|date=10 June 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020610121928/http://www.egypt2000.com/tdots/|archive-date=10 June 2002}}

;Asia

;Europe

;North America

;Oceania

;South America

{{div col end}}

Participating broadcasters

{{More citations needed section|date=July 2022}}

The following nations broadcast 2000 Today. Some nations were licensees of the broadcast, rather than formal members of the broadcast consortium.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2000todaymusic.com/theworld_aff.html|title=Sony Classical|date=6 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906045528/http://www.2000todaymusic.com/theworld_aff.html|archive-date=6 September 2011}}

{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}

{{div col end}}

= Recorded time broadcasts =

  • Longest time broadcasts: HTV (42 hours 30 minutes)
  • Shortest time broadcasts: VTV (6 hours)

Ratings

2000 Today had an estimated worldwide audience of 800 million people, with an audience of 12.6 million people on the BBC alone.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/jan/03/bbc.millennium1|title=BBC wins Big Ben ratings battle|first=Matt|last=Wells|newspaper=The Guardian |date=3 January 2000|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118010944/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/jan/03/bbc.millennium1|url-status=live}}

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = 2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium

| type = soundtrack

| artist = Tan Dun

| cover = 2000 Today A World Symphony for the Millennium.jpeg

| alt =

| released = December 1999

| recorded = August to November 1999

| venue =

| studio = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Various}}|hlist=true|Right Track Recording Studios, New York City|Sony Music Studios, New York City|Clinton Recording Studios, New York City|{{interlanguage link|Studio Guillaume Tell|fr}}, Paris|Extreme Music, Miami|Sound On Sound Recording, New York City|Whitfield Street Studios, Soho{{Cite web|url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=51839|title=Tan Dun: 2000 Today - World Symphony For The Millennium|website=www.arkivmusic.com|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713014519/http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=51839|url-status=live}}}}

| genre = {{hlist|Soundtrack|classical|folk|world|country}}

| length = 52:30

| label = Sony Classical

| producer = {{hlist|Grace Row|Tan Dun}}

| prev_title = Bitter Love

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{Singles

| name = 2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium

| type = soundtrack

| single1 = One Love

| single1date = 1999

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{AllMusic|id=mw0001889386|title=2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium|access-date=13 July 2020}}

| noprose = yes

}}

2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium is a television soundtrack album of music commissioned by the BBC for its internationally broadcast television special, 2000 Today and released by Sony Classical Records in December 1999. The music was composed and conducted by multi award-winning composer Tan Dun, and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, London Voices choir, New London Children's Choir, and a group of world instrument performers from around the world. It was featured on PBS and ABC throughout the promotions leading up to the broadcast and throughout the broadcast itself, providing musical "stepping stones" from country to country, culture to culture, day to night.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2000todaymusic.com/index.html|title=SONY CLASSICAL|date=6 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906045519/http://www.2000todaymusic.com/index.html|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=6 September 2011}}

The programme's theme song was a cover version of Bob Marley's song "One Love" performed by the Gipsy Kings, Ziggy Marley, Tsidii Le Loka and the Boys Choir of Harlem.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/yawns-greet-bbc-millennium-line-up-738983.html|title=Yawns greet BBC millennium line-up|date=3 December 1999|website=The Independent|access-date=12 July 2020|archive-date=10 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710224519/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/yawns-greet-bbc-millennium-line-up-738983.html|url-status=live}} This version was released as a single in Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tan-Dun-One-Love/release/5113038|title=Tan Dun - One Love|website=Discogs|access-date=12 July 2020|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002222815/https://www.discogs.com/Tan-Dun-One-Love/release/5113038|url-status=live}} "One Love" was performed live by Gipsy Kings as part of the broadcast from Miami, Florida.

=Track listing=

{{Track listing

| headline =

| extra_column = Performer(s)

| title1 = One Love | length1 = 4:05 | extra1 = Boys Choir of Harlem, Gipsy Kings, Tsidii Le Loka, Ziggy Marley

| title2 = Beyond Light | length2 = 5:46

| title3 = Reflection | length3 = 4:39

| title4 = At Sunrise | length4 = 3:17

| title5 = Africa, Africa | length5 = 3:18

| title6 = Crossings | length6 = 4:27

| title7 = The East | length7 = 5:07

| title8 = Antarctica | length8 = 4:27

| title9 = Dreams | length9 = 3:16

| title10 = Stones | length10 = 3:17

| title11 = Celebration | length11 = 3:29

| title12 = 2000 Passions | length12 = 7:22

| all_writing = Tan Dun, with the exception of "One Love" by Marley and Curtis Mayfield| total_length = 52:30

}}

=Personnel=

  • Tan Dun – composer, conductor, producer
  • Charles Harbutt – engineer, post production
  • Mary Lou Humphrey – liner notes
  • Photonica – photographer
  • FPG International – photographer
  • Grace Row – producer

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/2000/tv/schedule.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050830013545/http://www.abc.net.au/2000/tv/schedule.htm|archive-date=30 August 2005|publisher=ABC (Australia)|title=2000 Today|date=26 January 2000|access-date=1 January 2010}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20191220025544/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8193196e 2000 Today] at the British Film Institute{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}}
  • {{IMDb title|0280379}}
  • [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL48vcH_NCty9qETpz8nJ4c5IhLYpb21Xu 2000 Today (BBC) on YouTube]

{{New Year}}

Category:New Year's television specials

Category:1999 television specials

Category:2000 television specials

Category:1999 in British television

Category:2000 in British television

Category:GMA Network television specials

Category:Simulcasts

Category:Turn of the third millennium

Category:International broadcasting

Category:International telecommunications