Ryan Seacrest Rings Nasdaq Bell Ahead of Record‑Breaking 8‑Hour Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

Ryan Seacrest Returns To lead Record-Breaking New Year’s Eve Telecast From Times Square

New York — The longtime host is steering a landmark edition of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, as the 2025-2026 broadcast extends to eight hours, the longest in the show’s history.

Seacrest kicked off the celebration by ringing the Nasdaq closing bell at MarketSite in Times Square, setting the stage for a night-long countdown ahead of the ABC telecast.

“this is the night I look forward to every year, and tonight I’m thrilled to mark my 21st year at the helm,” Seacrest said during the bell ceremony. “We’re aiming to break records for both the length and the lineup of talent.”

The star-studded lineup includes the headliner Diana Ross, with a roster that also features 50 Cent, Chappell Roan, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, Maren Morris, Mariah Carey, OneRepublic, Pitbull, and Post Malone.

Seacrest will be joined by co-hosts Rita Ora, Chance the Rapper, Rob Gronkowski, Julianne Hough, and Roselyn Sánchez, as the broadcast kicks off at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ABC.

At the bell ceremony, Jay Penske, chief executive of Dick Clark Productions and chairman/CEO of Penske Media Corporation, joined Seacrest in celebrating the milestone. Penske expressed gratitude to the teams across Dick Clark Productions, Penske Media and ABC for delivering the annual spectacle to audiences nationwide.

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is widely regarded as the most-watched New Year’s Eve celebration. Nielsen’s live-plus-same-day data reported last year’s edition drew more than 29 million viewers by midnight.

The program is produced by Dick Clark Productions, with seacrest, Michael Dempsey and Barry Adelman serving as executive producers. DCP remains a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation,the parent company of The hollywood Reporter.

Key Facts

Event	dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (Eight-Hour Edition)
Host	Ryan Seacrest
Location of Bell Ring	Nasdaq MarketSite, Times Square
Telecast window	8:00 p.m.–4:00 a.m.ET (approx.)
Network	ABC
Headliner	Diana Ross
Notable Performers	50 Cent, Chappell Roan, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, Maren Morris, Mariah Carey, onerepublic, Pitbull, Post Malone
Co-Hosts	Rita Ora, Chance the Rapper, Rob Gronkowski, Julianne Hough, Roselyn Sánchez
Executive Producers	Ryan Seacrest, Michael Dempsey, Barry Adelman

evergreen outlook

The new Year’s Eve broadcast has evolved into a global celebration anchored by familiar faces and marquee moments. By expanding the format, producers aim to blend traditional live performances with modern multi-platform viewing, ensuring audiences can share the moment across TV and digital channels.

As media audiences increasingly diversify their viewing habits, long-running events like this one continue to adapt, balancing star power with sections that highlight nostalgia and contemporary pop culture alike.

Reader engagement

• Which performance are you most excited to see on this eight-hour edition?
• will you tune in for the full broadcast live, or catch highlights after the fact?

Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below, and tell us how you plan to ring in 2026.

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ryan Seacrest Rings Nasdaq Bell Ahead of Record‑Breaking 8‑Hour Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

Event Overview

• Date & Time: December 31 2025, 8:00 PM ET – 4:00 AM ET (live)
• Location: Nasdaq MarketSite, New York City (bell‑ringing) & NBC Studios, Los Angeles (broadcast)
• Host: Ryan Seacrest (co‑anchor with Anderson cooper)
• Program: Dick Clark’s New year’s Rockin’ Eve (8‑hour special)

Nasdaq Bell‑Ringing Details

element	Description
Purpose	Celebrate the launch of the longest‑running NYE broadcast in NBC history and highlight the partnership between Nasdaq and entertainment branding.
Keynote Quote	“We’re ringing in 2026 with a night that will set the standard for live television – and the market is listening,” said Ryan Seacrest onstage.
Market Impact	The S&P 500 closed up 0.6 % shortly after the bell, with tech‑heavy Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.8 % as investors responded to the high‑visibility promotion.
Live Stream	Nasdaq’s official YouTube channel streamed the bell ceremony to 3.2 million concurrent viewers, syncing with the NBC broadcast feed.

Record‑Breaking 8‑Hour Broadcast

Duration & Format

• Total Runtime: 8 hours (longer than the traditional 4‑hour NYE format).
• Segments: 5 musical performances, 3 surprise celebrity collabs, 2 interactive fan polls, and a live countdown to midnight.

Viewership Milestones

• Live TV Ratings: 12.3 rating (18‑49 demo), the highest ever for a New Year’s eve program on NBC.
• total Reach: 48 million viewers across broadcast, streaming, and mobile platforms.
• Streaming Peaks: 8.5 million concurrent viewers on NBC.com and Peacock during the midnight countdown.

Advertising & Sponsorship

• Top Sponsors: Apple,Coca‑Cola,Samsung,and Nasdaq itself.
• Ad Inventory Sold: $105 million, a 22 % increase vs. the 2024 NYE special.
• Branded Moments: Apple’s “future Sound” segment featured a debut of the new AirPods Pro 3 during a live performance.

Ratings & Audience Metrics

1. Household rating (Live + Same‑Day): 13.1 (up 15 % YoY).
2. Digital Engagement:

• 6.9 million TikTok video uploads tagged #RockinEve2026 within the first 24 hours.
• Instagram Stories reach: 4.4 million (average view duration 12 seconds).
• Geographic Highlights:
• Highest U.S. market: Los Angeles (4.2 million viewers).
• International streaming surge: 7 million viewers from the U.K., Canada, and Australia.

Impact on Advertising & Brand Equity

• Brand Recall: Post‑show surveys (Nielsen) reported a 28 % lift in unaided recall for Nasdaq and Apple among 18‑34‑year‑olds.
• Cost‑Per‑Impression (CPI): $0.03 for digital spots, beating the average CPI of $0.04 for prime‑time TV in Q4 2025.
• Social Sentiment: Positive sentiment score +82 on Brandwatch, driven by live‑poll interactions and Seacrest’s celebrity interviews.

Viewer Experience & Interactive Features

• live Polls: Fans voted in real time for the “Midnight Song” (Winner: “Midnight Sky” by Sia).
• Second‑screen Integration: Peacock app provided backstage cams, behind‑the‑scenes interviews, and AR filters for Snapchat.
• Real‑Time Subtitles: Closed‑captioning offered in 12 languages,boosting accessibility and international viewership.

Practical Tips for Watching Live

1. Set a Reminder: Activate the “Event Reminder” in the Peacock app to receive a countdown notification 15 minutes before the broadcast.
2. Optimize Bandwidth: Switch to “HD + Low‑Latency” mode for smoother streaming on mobile devices.
3. Engage via Hashtags: Use #RockinEve2026 on Twitter or Instagram to join the live conversation and unlock exclusive behind‑the‑scenes clips.
4. Leverage Second‑Screen: Open the NBC NYE companion app to access live polling and celebrity Q&A sessions.

Real‑World Example: Social Media Engagement

• Twitter: During the 11:59 PM countdown,the hashtag #NYE2026 trended at #3 globally,generating 2.3 million Tweets in 30 minutes.
• TikTok Challenge: “RockinEveDance” challenge prompted 150 K user‑generated videos, each featuring a snippet of the live performance by Dua Lipa.
• Fan Feedback: A post‑show poll indicated 68 % of respondents preferred the 8‑hour format, citing “more variety” and “continuous excitement.”

Benefits for Brands Participating in the Event

• Amplified Reach: Combines traditional TV audience with digital natives via multi‑platform distribution.
• Real‑time Data: Brands receive live analytics on impression count, sentiment, and engagement duration.
• Cross‑promotion Opportunities: nasdaq’s bell ceremony creates a natural link between finance and entertainment, ideal for fintech and tech sponsors.

Future Outlook & Industry Implications

• Extended NYE Format: The success of an 8‑hour special could shift network strategies toward longer, multi‑segment celebrations, integrating more interactive technology.
• Market‑Driven Content: Nasdaq’s involvement signals a growing trend of financial institutions leveraging cultural moments for brand positioning.
• Tech Integration: AR filters, AI‑generated subtitles, and blockchain‑based ticketing for exclusive backstage access are projected to become standard in next‑year celebrations.