1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
Remember When City TV Used To Do A New Year's Eve Show At City Hall?
We're just under a month to the countdown to 2026, and while I'm sure there will be a lot to do in the city, there hasn't been the kind of show at City Hall that used to be an annual event. I'm thinking of the City TV party that featured everyone from big music names to MuchMusic VJs and Gord Martineau.
The Much people are gone and so is Gord. And the musicians are playing elsewhere. There may still be events at Nathan Phillips Square but the folks at Rogers are no longer helping to pay the freight for the big bash. And that's a shame. So what is happening as people circle in the Square this Dec. 31st?
Not much. Here's the description on the City of Toronto (as opposed to the Toronto of City!) website:
"Ring in the New Year with a free, festive countdown to 2026 along Toronto’s stunning waterfront.
The celebration kicks off on December 31 at 10 p.m. Enjoy pop-up performances, lively entertainment and a spectacular 10-minute midnight fireworks display lighting up the city skyline and visible from anywhere with a view of Toronto’s inner harbour or can be watched live on YouTube.
There are no fireworks at City Hall or Nathan Phillips Square."
Obviously, the days of the TV party are long gone. While City sometimes still does a live countdown at a minute to midnight from some remote location, it's usually just a cut-in for the Dick Clark Rockin' New Year's Eve special, simulcast with ABC. It's a New Year, but the same old Rogers.
Speaking of the ABC show, they've released the list of performers they're going to cram into those few hours. I must be getting old. I recognize a number of these names, but not all.
- Radiowiz
- Member
Offline
Re: Remember When City TV Used To Do A New Year's Eve Show At City Hall?
Now Toronto has a good write up about Toronto's New year celebration 2025/2026:
- Shorty Wave
- Member
Offline
Re: Remember When City TV Used To Do A New Year's Eve Show At City Hall?
The Citytv New Year’s Eve show from Nathan Phillips Square was quite the event! Like RadioActive mentioned, they had big names in music plus their on-air talent like Martineau and JD Roberts from MuchMusic. I remember when mayor June Rowland decided to ban Barenaked Ladies from performing in 1991 all because of their name. This was a pisser for Citytv as BNL were hot at the time and basically headlining the show. City Hall had egg on their collective faces over that one!
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Remember When City TV Used To Do A New Year's Eve Show At City Hall?
Shorty Wave wrote:
The Citytv New Year’s Eve show from Nathan Phillips Square was quite the event! Like RadioActive mentioned, they had big names in music plus their on-air talent like Martineau and JD Roberts from MuchMusic. I remember when mayor June Rowland decided to ban Barenaked Ladies from performing in 1991 all because of their name. This was a pisser for Citytv as BNL were hot at the time and basically headlining the show. City Hall had egg on their collective faces over that one!
BNL owes a lot of their existence to City TV, where they made a splash for the first time in the Speakers Corner booth at the corner of Queen and John Sts.
- •
Thread Starter- Stinand
- Member
Offline
Re: Remember When City TV Used To Do A New Year's Eve Show At City Hall?
I have been involved on the production side with the New Year’s Eve Toronto fireworks show since the COVID-19 pandemic. I do not speak on behalf of the city. The facts are that there has been no interest from television broadcasters until this year, when CBC had a stage at Harbourfront. The town has another main stage with the emcee and dignitaries around the Music Garden. The event is now too large for Nathan Phillips Square, with over 200,000 people attending. The event spans from the Music Garden to Sugar Beach, featuring an extensive sound system, LED video screens and various entertainment stages across the waterfront. We have broadcast it on YouTube with over many viewers live. Times change, and so does broadcasting .
- mace
- Member
Offline
Re: Remember When City TV Used To Do A New Year's Eve Show At City Hall?
We're just under a month to the countdown to 2026, and while I'm sure there will be a lot to do in the city, there hasn't been the kind of show at City Hall that used to be an annual event. I'm thinking of the City TV party that featured everyone from big music names to MuchMusic VJs and Gord Martineau.
The Much people are gone and so is Gord. And the musicians are playing elsewhere. There may still be events at Nathan Phillips Square but the folks at Rogers are no longer helping to pay the freight for the big bash. And that's a shame. So what is happening as people circle in the Square this Dec. 31st?
Not much. Here's the description on the City of Toronto (as opposed to the Toronto of City!) website:
"Ring in the New Year with a free, festive countdown to 2026 along Toronto’s stunning waterfront.
The celebration kicks off on December 31 at 10 p.m. Enjoy pop-up performances, lively entertainment and a spectacular 10-minute midnight fireworks display lighting up the city skyline and visible from anywhere with a view of Toronto’s inner harbour or can be watched live on YouTube.
There are no fireworks at City Hall or Nathan Phillips Square."
Obviously, the days of the TV party are long gone. While City sometimes still does a live countdown at a minute to midnight from some remote location, it's usually just a cut-in for the Dick Clark Rockin' New Year's Eve special, simulcast with ABC. It's a New Year, but the same old Rogers.
Speaking of the ABC show, they've released the list of performers they're going to cram into those few hours. I must be getting old. I recognize a number of these names, but not all.
Of the 37 artists, 17 I either am familiar with their music, or at least recognize the name. the majority fall into the latter category.
- Dparker
- Member
Offline
Re: Remember When City TV Used To Do A New Year's Eve Show At City Hall?
The NYE Concert at the Falls was always better acts compare to what Toronto had to offer