Chicago will join Times Square on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” this year, with Chicago’s New Year’s Eve celebrations televised for the first time on the ABC broadcast.
An hour after the ball drops in New York, the show will add a Central time zone midnight countdown live from downtown Chicago, according to an announcement Monday from ABC and Dick Clark Productions.
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Hosts and musical guests in Chicago have yet to be announced, but the show expects to televise the fireworks on the bridges over the Chicago River. A spokesperson for Dick Clark Productions said the program was working with local ABC station WLS-TV and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office to make it happen.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the beauty and dynamism of our city and its people for the world to see,” Johnson said in part in a statement. “We could not be more excited to welcome in the new year with fireworks, music, and Chicago pride.”
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” which has been hosted or co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest since 2005, also will broadcast a live Atlantic Time zone countdown from Puerto Rico. Along with the Chicago countdown, the spokesperson said, the show will have musical performances and interactions with Chicago revelers via “multiple live cut-ins throughout the night.” The location of its stage has yet to be announced.
The popular New Year’s Eve program has been running since 1972, with Dick Clark as host or co-host from 1973 until his death in 2012. This will be the first time the show will broadcast from Chicago.
There will be New Year’s Eve fireworks again this year on Navy Pier and along the Chicago River, with the full schedule of city events still to be announced by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” airs Wednesday, Dec. 31 on ABC, beginning at 7 p.m. CST.
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
