New Year's Eve is always at treat at home on the box and we've got your ultimate guide to December 31's musical TV treats.
Now a yearly institution, the ABC’s spectacular Sydney Harbour concert and fireworks are the place to be if you’re in your lounge chair this New Year’s Eve, but there’s more!
This year’s event is once again hosted by Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering and this year they’ll be joined by triple j Breakfast host Concetta Caristo to ring in the new year.
The broadcast kicks off on ABCTV (and iView) at 8:30pm with a Welcome to Country, a behind the scenes look at what goes into creating the fireworks show and a “special surprise” from Bluey.
The live music starts at 9:10pm with something for every taste including Harry Connick Jr (who was announced just today as a last-minute surprise), Jessica Mauboy, Genesis Owusu, King Stingray, Confidence Man, Angie McMahon, Mark Seymour, Grentperez and it wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without Casey Donovan. They always seem to get that music mix right and this year seems like no exception.
This year, ABC insiders tell us is the biggest event yet and includes a 15-piece live band and amazing tributes to Burt Bacharach, Tina Turner and Sinead O’Connor.
Of course the world’s greatest fireworks spectacular then takes place from midnight, followed by the equally iconic Rage New Years Eve special that kicks in from 12:20pm.
ABC’s Head of Arts, Music and Events, Kath Earle, said: “NYE is one of our favourite nights of the year! We love working with our partners City of Sydney on our show-stopping NYE broadcast. Always a night to remember, we can’t wait to celebrate with people all around the world showcasing a wonderful night of Australian music, entertainment and of course fireworks.”
For those that want more music in their lives, there’s also some great options on other channels. NITV kicks off at 7:30pm with a Marvin Gaye biopic and is then doubling down on the amazing Tina Turner, airing two full concerts from 8:30pm- Tina: One Last TIme and Tina: What’s Love. The shows filmed on tours from 1993 and 2000 are jam packed with hits and are sure to be a celebration of a much loved icon lost in 2023.
On SBS there’s the Clive Davis documentary The Soundtrack Of Our Lives from 7:30pm then Billy Joel Live at Yankee Stadium at 9:45pm, filmed over two nights and featuring his biggest hits. The night rounds out at 11:20pm with Kenny Rogers All In For The Gambler concert from 2017.
Over on Channel 9 they’re hamming it up musical movies with Hairspray from 7pm followed by Pitch Perfect. From 11:20pm it wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without the obligatory airing of The Village People’s 22% Rotten Tomatoes so-bad-its-good You Can’t Stop The Music. If you’re in Melbourne you’ll also get the City of Melbourne fireworks broadcast from 11:20pm (knocking The Village People back into 2024).
Whatever your choices, whatever your night brings, make sure you ring in 2024 with music.