this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2025
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I remember when I was young I could just turn on the TV, pick any channel, and I would watch a properly timed ball drop in New York.

Now? It took ages to find a new years countdown on youtube. Couldn't find a decent option and eventually I settled on a tower in Texas that was in the central time zone.

Is there a good ball drop replacement for people who don't own a TV and live purely online? It doesn't need to be fancy, just count down without me having to synchronize watches -_-

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[–] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 13 points 1 week ago

I have a clock in my pocket

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think I saw one on Disney plus of all places. I saw it at 9 PM (I was tuning in for Skeleton Crew) and unless I read it wrong it had already been running for three hours. WTF? But I'm fifty. I have seen enough balls drop in my lifetime. I watched my Star Wars and was in bed by ten.

[–] turtlepower@lemm.ee 5 points 1 week ago

Oooh, same here, but after we watched Skeleton Crew we waited till midnight, turned on the ball drop, kissed, hit the bowl, and went to bed.

Best party ever.

[–] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 9 points 1 week ago

I don't have a cable connection or subscription, but that stuff is still broadcasted. Although personality I don't bother, screw the telly while socializing.

I just climb out on my roof and watch the fireworks

[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don't even have TV and was still inundated with the NYC ball drop. It's still named after Dick Clark, for goodness sake. How did you not find it and settle for a Texas copycat? What fascinating little silos we find ourselves in online.

[–] dukeofdummies@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

Oh I found it, but it also was on eastern time. I'm in the central time zone. So without a syncronize step it was an hour ahead.

I was just looking for something to put in the background while my wife and I chilled. I just like to have that 10 second countdown ya know?

[–] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 week ago

We went outside. The neighborhood was lighting up fireworks, partying and having a good time. You could hear people shouting the countdown and then firing their best light show. Good times!

[–] turtlepower@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

You know, it's funny how such things were available over-the-air, for free, to everyone that had a TV and an antenna, and we were much more "together" as a country.

Now you have to be able to afford it or end up going through a huge pain in the ass to watch it "illegally"—and we are more divided than ever.

[–] KittenBiscuits@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

OTA is still available with a reasonably cheap walmart antenna. I got one because I wanted access to the local channels without forking out for a major streaming service that includes them. Happy with my Google and $25 Philo channels and my antenna.

Ymmv in rural areas. I'm very familiar with being on the far side of a mountain from the broadcast antenna and not being able to pick up but 1-2 channels. But fortunately I live in flat land now where I'm not limited by geological obstructions.

[–] weeeeum@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 1 week ago

This year I was too numb to cry.

[–] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

I fell asleep at 9 pm like every single night.