---

Goodyear Blimps to Help in World Millennium Telecasts

15 December 1999

Goodyear Blimps to Help in World Millennium Telecasts

    AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 15 -- Six Goodyear blimps and a helicopter
stationed in six time zones will bring live television coverage of new
millennium events globally to an estimated one-billion people when clocks
worldwide strike midnight on Dec. 31.
    Strategically located for the world's biggest party, Goodyear's aerial
cameras will be flying high over Sydney, Australia; Rome, Italy; Barcelona,
Spain; London, England; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Miami, Florida; and Los
Angeles, California.
    "This is a tremendous opportunity for Goodyear to contribute to a truly
historical event," said John Perduyn, senior vice president, global
communications.  "Massive progress has occurred over the past 100 years in
aviation, but assisting in the telecast of the start of the new millennium is
a fleet of aircraft whose roots precede the airplane."
    "We have telecast commitments from the major networks worldwide and many
local affiliates," said Mickey Wittman, manager, global airship public
relations.
    The first live broadcast is scheduled from Sydney Harbor, Australia, from
the Spirit of South Pacific.  Because of the time difference, the Australian
telecast to North America will take place on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. (Eastern
Standard Time). "ABC - the Australian Broadcasting Company - will provide the
feed," said Wittman.
    Elsewhere, in Asia, the blimp feed will go to Star TV, the leading
satellite broadcaster in the region with 300 million viewers in 53 countries.
    "During this time frame in the U.S., NBC will be broadcasting the Today
Show.  In addition to their own programming, we anticipate coverage from their
sister networks, CNBC and MSNBC," Wittman said.
    CNBC will provide live coverage throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
and NBC will air a Prime Time special with anchor Tom Brokaw from 9 p.m. to 11
p.m.
    In the United States, Goodyear has positioned the Pompano, Fla.,-based
Stars & Stripes in Miami's South Beach area.
    On the West Coast, the Carson, Calif.,-based Eagle, will help local
affiliates of the major networks focus on the California celebration in the
Los Angeles area.
    In Europe, the Spirit of Europe I will work with the Italian national
broadcaster RAI above the historic city of Rome while Spirit of Europe II will
be floating through the skies above Barcelona, Spain.
    A Goodyear helicopter flying over London will send out pictures to Sky
News, the 24-hour TV news channel available to 80 million viewers in more than
40 countries.
    In South America, Goodyear's Spirit of the Americas will be in the
celebration-focused city of Rio de Janeiro working with the country's largest
network, TV Globo, to coordinate the broadcast of events live to an estimated
20 million television viewers, with a further audience of 3 million along the
Copacabana beaches.
    "This should be one of the biggest, if not the biggest media event in
history," Perduyn said.