300 million set to tune into Liverpool’s 08 launch

Jan 11 2008

A GLOBAL audience of between 200m and 300m is expected to tune in to watch Liverpool’s £2m opening weekend to the start of European Capital of Culture celebrations.

Last night, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the city’s “fantastic” year-long programme was “the perfect opportunity to showcase the contribution that Liverpool makes to our world-class cultural reputation”.

“This is a city steeped in culture – and very much alive to it. And now is the perfect opportunity to show that to the world,” he said.

Ringo Starr, the biggest name to be involved in weekend, was today back in the city and said: "It's great to be back."

Britain’s biggest stage – 1km in area – has been assembled on St George’s Plateau for tonight’s People’s Opening.

More than 200 worldwide journalists will report on tonight’s spectacular and tomorrow’s Liverpool the Musical at the Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Neither event will be broadcast live in their entirety, but BBC News 24 and Sky News are expected to dedicate heavy coverage to tonight’s show, and also report on Saturday’s event.

AMERICAN network CBS will host its breakfast show from Liverpool as will BBC Radio Five Live.

ITN, Channel Four News, and CNN will also be joined by media organisations from across the globe, including China.

The Mersey Partnership (TMP), the region’s tourist and inward investment body, last night said it was impossible to quantify the value of this type of media interest, but it was a vital part of getting across the message that Liverpool and the region is among the world’s must-see destinations.

Last night, council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said the weekend was a “mind-blowing” start to the year.

“I am proud as punch with what we have achieved so far.

“It’s going to be a weekend that a lot of people will remember for a very long time and one which sends out a powerful, positive message about our amazing city.”

Tonight, two songs will be premiered at the show, which kicks off at 20.08, one by Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart, and one by up-and-coming Liverpool band The Wombats.

Both will be released as singles on Monday, January 14.

The production, which pays homage to Liverpool’s recent regeneration, will feature 150ft and 250ft cranes, forklifts, containers, giant screens, and 50km of cable.

One of the highlights is expected to be when former Beatle Ringo Starr takes to the roof of St George’s Hall.

Between 20,000 and 30,000 people are expected to attend and organisers have urged people to use public transport and leave plenty of time to get to the gig.

More than 600 people including 20 guitarists, choirs and schoolchildren and 40 aerial performers will be taking part in the 40-minute show.

Tomorrow’s 90-minute extravaganza features Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with No Fakin DJs, Ringo Starr, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Farm, Riuven, The Wombats, Pete Wylie, and Dave Stewart.

Starting at 20.08, it will be the official opening of the Echo Arena, Liverpool and includes a cast of 700 – the show is sold out.

The BBC Culture Show will broadcast a 45-minute programme on the opening weekend at 10.45pm on Sunday.

The complexity of the media operation was exemplified in a row that broke out behind the scenes yesterday between the BBC and the Liverpool Culture Company over the level of the Corporation’s coverage.

Culture supremo Phil Redmond blamed the BBC’s unwillingness to commit to broadcast the shows live last year. But BBC sources claimed the Culture Company had failed to get the correct legal clearance from performing artists for the extended parts of the events to be screened live.

Redmond said full performance clearance for the Saturday show, in particular, was not sought because of its cost in the absence of a broadcaster willing to pay for broadcast rights.

He said all issues had been resolved and the weekend would be a tremendous success.

A BBC spokesman said: “The contractual issues regarding the broadcast of the Capital of Culture opening events have now been resolved.

“There are no restrictions on the BBC, or any other broadcaster, showing the launch events as part of their normal news coverage.”

Redmond added: “In all, we are looking at a global audience of between 200m and 300m.” Tens of thousands of people will also enjoy both shows live in person.

The cost of the weekend has been put at around £2m by the Culture Company, which Redmond said was good value for money considering the exposure that the events would bring.

“I think it’s going to be really good, we have been fretting round making sure everything is OK and I think it will be.”

The Prime Minister’s message was also one of confidence in the success of the city. “My personal hopes for this year are: first, that people of Liverpool and the North West continue to benefit from being a Capital of Culture, following the substantial investment in regeneration that has been made over the past few years.

“Second, that Liverpool in 2008 inspires more people from all walks of life to try out new and different cultural activities – things they might not have been interested in before.

“Finally, that the Liverpool cultural institutions that have made this programme possible will continue to thrive as part of the legacy of the year.”

Cllr Bradley added: “The media interest in Capital of Culture has been absolutely phenomenal. We have got dozens of TV film crews from the UK and around the world and there are more than 200 print and broadcast journa-lists here to tell the story of Liverpool's rebirth.

“Major broadcasters such as the BBC and CBS will be beaming pictures of the launch around the globe.”

Martin King, director of tourism at TMP said Liverpool really was “walking a world stage this weekend”.

“It’s almost impossible to quantify the value of this type of media interest. We see it as a vital part of getting across the message that Liverpool City Region really is up there among the world’s must-see destinations – not just in 2008 European Capital of Culture.

“Many of the international media are already saying they will be back for future events this year such as the Grand National, the Tall Ships, the Open at Royal Birkdale and the MTV Awards.

“Liverpool stands to top the bill for the entire year.”

ADDITIONAL reporting: David Charters, Mike Chapple and Samantha Parker.

OPINION: PAGE 10;

PHIL REDMOND: PAGE 11

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