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December 31st, 2009
06:59 PM ET

The ball hath risen

Program Note: Don't miss our special coverage from Times Square tonight at 10 p.m. ET

Jim Spellman
CNN All-Platform Journalist

The show has begun in Times Square! The clock struck 6 p.m., trumpets blared, fireworks exploded and the famous New Year's Eve ball rose to its perch above Times Square.

At 12-feet in diameter it's twice as big as previous balls. It's covered in 2,668 Waterford crystals and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds. The 32,256 LED lights that cover it change color constantly.

This is my first time seeing it in person and I must say it is a bit underwhelming in scope. The ball sits above five giant video billboards for Budweiser, TDK and Toshiba.

The billboards dwarf the shiny bauble. It seems a bit like a prop from a different era, but it's it's pretty wild to think that in less than six hours millions of sets of eyes around the world will be focused on that sphere up in the sky above the New York night.


Filed under: Jim Spellman • New Year's Eve 2010
soundoff (7 Responses)
  1. Michelle

    Nice pics. Happy New Year. I will be watching.

    December 31, 2009 at 9:05 pm |
  2. maria Lee

    Anderson,Happy New Year! I would LOVE to see you and Kathy be partners on the next "Amazing Race"! Is that bad? You both are soo my favs!! Maria Lee

    December 31, 2009 at 7:59 pm |
  3. cyndie

    that looks awesome. we have to watch on tv but would love to xperience it live one day b4 I cant with my illness.

    December 31, 2009 at 7:32 pm |
  4. Dario van der Lündin

    TOLERANCE could be the motto for The New DECADE, with respect for our brothers and the wisdom of finding solutions for a better world in harmony where everybody can live in peace. Dario van der Lündin

    December 31, 2009 at 7:29 pm |
  5. bernadette

    this is just stunning nyc at it's finest-i feel like im right there in the heart of the city -thanks so much-great photos

    December 31, 2009 at 7:22 pm |
  6. Rita Nalette (Reyes)

    It is history – so many memories

    tomorrow will never be exciting without the ability to compare it to yesterday.

    born, raised, and live on the west coast and the Times Square event has always been magical first by radio, then black and white television and now...

    December 31, 2009 at 7:20 pm |
  7. Jackie

    Ok, no fair....start the show NOW!!!

    December 31, 2009 at 7:12 pm |