What is the name of the New Year's Eve television special that first aired in 1972 as a Times Square alternative?

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve first aired in 1972 as a Times Square alternative on American television.

The program debuted on December 31, 1972, welcoming 1973, and was created to compete with Guy Lombardo's long-running New Year's Eve broadcasts. Dick Clark hosted the special and later became strongly identified with the Times Square countdown, even though the program's early broadcasts were not always centered on the ball drop in the way modern viewers expect.

The title has changed over time as hosts, performers, and locations expanded. Clark continued appearing after suffering a stroke in 2004, with Ryan Seacrest joining him as co-host; Seacrest became the principal host after Clark's death in 2012. The special is often confused with the ball drop itself: the ball-drop ceremony predates the television program by 65 years.