The New Year's Eve celebration in Niagara Falls will have national television coverage.

At the beginning of Tuesday evening's city council meeting, Mayor Jim Diodati announced CBC will again be involved in the event, to be headlined by Canadian rock icon Bryan Adams.

"This will be televised on CBC, this will be live … you're hearing it first right here," said Diodati.

"It will be live here, from Niagara Falls, coast to coast, on CBC and it will be exclusive, Niagara Falls, from approximately 11:30 (p.m.) until midnight."

For the past two years, CBC has done a live New Year's Eve show using several locations across Canada, including Niagara Falls. But Diodati felt the city was shortchanged with last year's brief coverage. At one point, with Burton Cummings on stage in Niagara Falls, CBC cut to a remote bar with an unknown band.

"We weren't happy," Diodati said during a recent interview with The Niagara Falls Review, adding the city was having discussions with CBC to return this year with a different approach.

"I think they recognize the fact that (they) could do things better. We'd love to work with CBC, it could be great, but we want this to be a better event."

During Tuesday's meeting, Diodati credited Serge Felicetti, the city's director of business development, for "the hard negotiations, to make sure all eyes in the country will be on Niagara Falls, especially the last half-hour of the show, as we ring in the new year."

He also credited Felicetti for being successful in securing Adams, adding it will be one of the biggest New Year's Eve celebrations in the city's history.

Adams will bring nearly four decades of hits to go with more than 42 million albums sold worldwide when he plays the free outdoor event at Queen Victoria Park for the first time Dec. 31. The show will also feature Walk Off the Earth and Niagara Falls singer Valerie Borghesi.

The show will also include two fireworks displays — 9:15 p.m. and midnight.

— with files from John Law

Raymond.Spiteri@niagaradailies.com

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905-225-1645 | @RaySpiteri

- Bryan Adams headlining New Year's Eve in Niagara Falls