Sky's 'New Year Fireworks Live'

I decided that this year I'd watch Sky 1's coverage of the New Year countdown and fireworks in London. It appeared to be a simulcast of the Sky News coverage, but without the clock and ticker.

It all seemed to be going well, until about 00:05 when they just lost any decent sound. I sat there, thinking they'd get it back - but they didn't.

The issues start at 05:38 in this video, if you're interested:


I then switched over to the BBC, who had much better sound. It seemed like they had a direct audio feed from the event organisers, whereas ITV and Sky seemed to just have a few microphones picking up all of the ambient sound.

I'm sure it's more complex than that, but can anyone explain why the BBC's sound quality was much higher?

Also, which channel did you watch the New Year fireworks with?

I've never strayed from BBC One for New Years Fireworks. I wish they were incorporated somehow into Hootenanny because it's by far a better all-round programme, but the BBC always build something around the fireworks and give the coverage the TLC it deserves. That's probably why I've never bothered watching ITV, for they only opt for a quick news report then stick an old film on, and you'll get a better "package" from the BBC.

I didn't even know Sky 1 provided coverage. I never even contemplated the news channels showing them but I suppose it makes sense. But thank you for taking a bullet for us all and teaching us not to rely on Sky. I wouldn't put it past them to stick Kay Burley amongst the crowd and instruct her to report on somebody being killed or something and dampening the festivities.

I would love for them to do something like that too - have a Hootenanny Part 1, then live fireworks simulcast from BBC One, then Hootenanny Part 2, similar to how they schedule the live concerts they've been doing these past few years.


If you watch the news channels throughout the day, they take coverage of new year celebrations from different countries celebrating in different time zones, so it makes sense they'd show the local celebrations when it comes to midnight. Like you I had no idea Sky1 provided any coverage!

I watched all three channels afterwards and I was surprised that ITV decided to fade to their end card - right in the middle of the fireworks! They had some of the best shots (in my opinion) and so I wish they'd covered the whole thing.


Hahah! 😂

They were the host broadcasters I think ? Were ITV and Sky using the same pictures, or doing their own thing ? Arena were the OB company for the Beeb

I don't think there was a host broadcaster, was there?


ITV and Sky were doing their own thing. They all had different angles; even different helicopters - as far as I could tell.

Isn't the soundtrack something to do with Radio 1?

Yep the BBC are the official broadcaster of the event and pay for the music rights performed and film it and send it around the world.
Both SKY and ITV are restricted in what they can show.
For a few years Sky would just show the first 4 minutes of London and then just switch to the Hogmanay fireworks.

That's exactly what happened. Kay was interviewing someone on a bad phone line regarding the imminent terror threat in Munich whilst surrounded by drunken crowds on Westminster Bridge.

AIUI the BBC can provide a feed, at a cost presumably, internationally, so they are host broadcaster in that respect. As others have said, the BBC will have paid the appropriate rights fees for the music and audio extracts used, so can take this in quality.

However I doubt this is a pool operation, so ITN and Sky don't have access to this feed.

Here's a link to the official soundtrack. You can download it from Soundcloud.

https://soundcloud.com/thisisbounce/londons-new-years-eve-fireworks-soundtrack-2015-16

I assumed the BBC were the rights holders to the event, so show it properly with the music etc. Other channels can only show a limited amount as part of the usual news rights, like how you can show the goals from a football match but not the whole thing.