MO ROCCA:
00:00:03
And now another chapter in the history of these United States. I'm Mo Rocca. For millions of people, the year 2026 will begin once a crystal ball 12 and 1/2 feet in diameter makes its descent in New York City's Times square. [COUNTDOWN] [CHEERS] "New York Times" owner Adolph Ochs organized the first New York City Ball Drop on December 31, 1907. The original ball, this is a replica, was made by Jacob Starr, a Ukrainian immigrant metalworker. The event has taken place every year since, except in 1942 and 1943. In those two years, revelers welcomed the new year with a minute of silence. During the COVID pandemic in 2020, the New Year's ball still dropped in a nearly empty times Square. The brand new ball is the biggest ever. The ball is 12,350 pounds.
MO ROCCA:
00:01:12
Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, the company that's redeveloping One Times Square into a year round destination-- This is the ninth ball since 1907.
MO ROCCA:
00:01:23
--gave me a close up look at the ball covered in over 5,000 handcrafted circular Waterford crystal discs. They're in three different sizes, three different puck sizes in round versus triangular, which was the old geometric dome patterns.
MO ROCCA:
00:01:40
It's a self-contained light show with many special effects. Why do you think the ball drop means so much to so many people? It's something that really symbolizes releasing what was and looking forward to what's to come. [SOLEMN MUSIC]
MO ROCCA:
00:01:56
And in 2026, a bonus, the ball drops again on the eve of July 4 in addition to New Year's. From all of us at "CBS Sunday Morning," Happy New Year. And yes, I wore this to my high school prom.
