Dick Clark created and first hosted the U.S. television special Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
The program debuted on December 31, 1972, as a music-centered alternative to traditional New Year's broadcasts. Dick Clark hosted the first edition and became closely identified with its live countdown from Times Square. The show combined performances with the ball drop and helped make the New York celebration a recurring television event for national audiences.
Clark continued hosting for decades. After suffering a stroke in 2004, he returned to the broadcast in a reduced on-camera role, while other presenters handled more of the live work. Ryan Seacrest became the program's main host in later years, and the title was expanded to include his name after Clark's death.
The special is sometimes confused with other American New Year's programs, including NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly. Its defining historical figure is Clark, whose name remains part of the official title and legacy.