<P> Yearly themes for the ball's crystal panels continued; from 2008 to 2013, the ball contained crystal patterns that were part of a Waterford series known as "World of Celebration", including themes such as "Let There Be Light" and "Let There Be Peace". For 2014, all the ball's panels were replaced, marking a new theme series known as "Greatest Gifts", beginning with "Gift of Imagination". </P> <P> The numerical sign indicating the year (which remains atop the tower along with the ball itself) uses Philips LED lamps . For 2014, the final two digits of the sign used bulbs from the company's "Hue" line of multi-color LED lamps, allowing them to have computerized lighting cues . </P> <P> According to the National Weather Service, from 1907 to 2016, the average temperature at midnight in Central Park was 34 ° F (1 ° C). The coldest event was in 1917 when the temperature was 1 ° F (− 17 ° C) and the wind chill was − 18 ° F (− 28 ° C). The warmest temperature was 58 ° F (14 ° C), in 1965 and 1972 . It has snowed during the ball drop just seven times out of 111 events (one being light snow)--1926, 1934, 1948, 1952, 1961, 1967, and 2009--and it has rained multiple times . Festivities in 2018 were the second - coldest on record due to an arctic air mass, forecast at 11 ° F (− 12 ° C) before wind chill . </P> <P> As a public event, the festivities and ball drop are often broadcast on television . As of 2016 - 17, a host feed of 21 cameras across Times Square is provided to broadcasters to incorporate into their coverage . </P>

Who pays for the new years eve ball