<P> New Year's Rockin' Eve 2012 brought ABC's highest ratings on New Year's Eve since ABC 2000 Today; an average 8.4 million viewers watched the 40th anniversary retrospective, the primetime hour brought in 12.9 million viewers, and the first hour of the main broadcast peaked at 22.6 million viewers . These numbers excluded viewership from locations such as bars and New Year's Eve parties, as Nielsen ratings do not account for out - of - home viewership (however, the company announced on October 24, 2016 that it would begin to offer out - of - home ratings data to broadcasters in April 2017). </P> <P> On April 18, 2012, Dick Clark died after suffering a heart attack following surgery to fix an enlarged prostate . Following Clark's death, ABC declined to comment on future New Year's coverage, nor did Dick Clark Productions comment on the future of the franchise . </P> <P> In August 2012, ABC confirmed via a press release that New Year's Rockin' Eve would return for its 2012--13 edition . The primetime hour of this edition was preceded by a two - hour tribute special, New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark . Clark's legacy was also recognized by the Times Square Alliance, organizers of the ball drop: a triangular Waterford Crystal panel engraved with Dick Clark's name was presented to his widow Kari Wigton, and installed on the ball . </P> <P> On October 23, 2013, Dick Clark Productions confirmed the 2013--14 edition of New Year's Rockin' Eve, and announced that Ryan Seacrest had signed a multi-year deal of unspecified length to continue serving as host and executive producer of the special . Seacrest stated that he would "forever be both sentimental and grateful" about his involvement in the special, and that he was "excited to work together to create new traditions and fun moments on the show that only live television can deliver ." Fellow producer Allen Shapiro credited Seacrest's involvement in New Year's Rockin' Eve for its "extended and expanded" success . That year, the special was aired in simulcast in Canada for first time by City, replacing its coverage of concert festivities at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square (City continued to sponsor the event, however). While viewership was down by 5%, New Year's Rockin' Eve was still the highest - rated among the New Year's specials . </P>

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