Rock the Millennium: 1999 New Year's Eve Special

Were you one of the million people packed around Sydney Harbour to watch the fireworks usher in the new millennium? Or among the 2.5 billion tuning in worldwide? The opening of Rock the Millennium, produced by ATN 7 in Sydney, captures the sheer scale of 31 December 1999 – a night when the world held its breath over the ‘millennium bug’ and then exhaled in one massive party. It's a fascinating snapshot of how Australian television framed one of the biggest nights of the century. It begins with sweeping aerial shots of Sydney’s 9 pm fireworks, taken at a distance from the action because the rival Nine Network held the official NYE broadcast rights. Instead, Seven’s three-and-a-half-hour special promised a star-studded concert featuring Human Nature, Jimmy Barnes, Bachelor Girl, Paul Kelly, the Whitlams and Vanessa Amorosi. The breathless opening sets the tone for a night of music and celebration – a reminder of how Australian TV marked a once-in-a-thousand-years moment.