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.

2000 Today
GenreNew Year's television special
Created byZvi Dor-Ner
Developed byZvi Dor-Ner
Presented byVarious (see below)
StarringMusical artists
Theme music composerBob Marley
Opening theme"One Love"
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Avril MacRory
  • Peter McGhee
  • Neil Eccles
  • Zvi Dor-Ner
Running time
  • 28 hours (United Kingdom)
  • 25 hours and 30 minutes (International broadcasts)
DistributorBBC
Release
Original networkVarious broadcasters
Original release31 December 1999 (1999-12-31) –
1 January 2000 (2000-01-01)
Chronology
Related showsABC 2000 (United States)
Millennium Eve: Celebrate 2000 (Ireland)

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. The programme was produced and televised by an international consortium of 60 broadcasters, headed by the BBC in the UK and WGBH in Boston. The BBC provided the production hub for receiving and distributing the 78 international satellite feeds required for this broadcast.

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.

2000 Today was nominated for "Best Visual Effects and Graphic Design" at the 2000 British Academy Television Craft Awards.[1]

History

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

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 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.

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. ABC 2000 Today however decided to use Paris for its broadcast in the United States while French broadcasters TF1 and France 2 covered the festivities live from the Eiffel Tower. In addition, Italian broadcaster Rai 1 used the pope's blessing for its Millennium - La Notte Del 2000 broadcast.

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

Music performers

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.[2]

Soundtrack
2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium
Soundtrack album by
Tan Dun
ReleasedDecember 1999
RecordedAugust to November 1999[3]
Studio
Genre
Length52:30
LabelSony Classical
Producer
  • Grace Row
  • Tan Dun
Tan Dun chronology
Bitter Love
(1999)		 2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium
(1999)		 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
(2000)
Singles from 2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium
  1. "One Love"
    Released: 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

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.[5]

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.[6] This version was released as a single in Europe.[7] "One Love" was performed live by Gipsy Kings as part of the broadcast from Miami, Florida.[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tan Dun, with the exception of "One Love" by Marley and Curtis Mayfield.

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."One Love"Boys Choir of Harlem, Gipsy Kings, Tsidii Le Loka, Ziggy Marley4:05
2."Beyond Light" 5:46
3."Reflection" 4:39
4."At Sunrise" 3:17
5."Africa, Africa" 3:18
6."Crossings" 4:27
7."The East" 5:07
8."Antarctica" 4:27
9."Dreams" 3:16
10."Stones" 3:17
11."Celebration" 3:29
12."2000 Passions" 7:22
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
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gollark: No.

See also

References
  1. "2000 BAFTA Television Craft Awards winners and nominees – Awards database". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20110906045528/http://www.2000todaymusic.com/theworld_aff.html
  3. 2000 Today: A World Symphony for the Millennium at AllMusic. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. "Tan Dun: 2000 Today - World Symphony For The Millennium". www.arkivmusic.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. "SONY CLASSICAL". web.archive.org. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. "Yawns greet BBC millennium line-up". The Independent. 3 December 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  7. "Tan Dun - One Love". Discogs. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
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