Why I won’t watch New Years on TV tonight
I am writing this on December 31, 2014 at about 8:00 pm Pacific time. In 3 1/2 hours, Disney’s ABC television network will present a special New Year’s Eve show. This show, which has been running for decades and is currently hosted by Ryan Seacrest, brings the viewer all of the excitement of the New Year. This not only includes musical performances that ring in the New Year, but also the drama of watching the dropping of the ball in Times Square to mark the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015.
It’s a stunning television moment.
But I won’t bother to watch it.
Why should I?
You see, I live in California. By the time that ABC shows the dropping of the ball in Times Square at 11:59 Pacific time, the network will be televising an event that occurred three hours previously. Back at 8:59 Pacific time, when the ball will actually drop, ABC will be showing something else out here in California.
This is just an example of how the West Coast hardly ever sees anything on live television. With the exception of sporting events – well, most sporting events – “live” presentations out here are on a three-hour tape delay. And New Years’ Eve is no different.
So why turn on the TV at midnight to see a “live” event that isn’t live? If I’m going to watch history, I might as well watch the History Channel.
Happy New Year.
P.S. Years ago, Los Angeles radio hosts Kevin and Bean hosted a television show that broadcast a West Coast New Year’s celebration. Sadly, it didn’t catch on.
tymshft 