Move over Oprah, step aside Ellen and get out of the way Modern Family because US audiences are getting an all new dose of Australia (specifically NSW) on top rated morning show NBC’s Today.
Put your makeup on Sydney, because the wake-up series is setting up a special live broadcast in the city next month.
Revealed by NSW Premier Mike Baird, Australian-born TODAY anchor Savannah Guthrie will host the live broadcast from 9.00pm to 11.00pm at an iconic Sydney location.
Australian-born Savannah Guthrie host a special live stream from Sydney.
The show will air to some 5.6 million Americans as well as four million TODAY Facebook followers.
Although he didn’t reveal which iconic location (any bets on the Opera House?), he did say the initiative will work towards promoting the state and city as a ‘must-see tourism destination’.
“This is a golden opportunity to showcase NSW to the lucrative US audience.”
NSW Premier Mike Baird
According to Mr Baird, around 323,000 visitors travelled to NSW from North America in the year ending September 2014.
During their stay, visitors stayed 4.3 million nights, providing a $535 million boost to the local economy.
Mr Baird says this makes the US a ‘priority market’ and a key contributor to the state’s goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.
The broadcast deal was secured by the NSW Government’s events and tourism agency Destination NSW in partnership with Qantas.
“We are looking to maximise the potential of this opportunity. Destination NSW will work with Qantas to offer travel packages to further promote the state to US audiences.”
Stuart Ayres, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gAkxjOY-t8
The NBC Today live show follows on from 2013’s Ellen De Generes visit, which saw the talk show host film in Australia as well as give her entire audience a free holiday Down Under.
According to the Minister, Ellen De Generes’ visit resulted in a 22 percent increase in inbound ticket sales from the USA to Sydney compared with normal levels.
Sydney was also showcased in a ‘holiday’ episode of comedy series, The Modern Family.