Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, invites all New Year’s revelers to turn on their imaginations with Philips Lighting and make this season’s celebration an extraordinary experience. From the iconic Times Square Ball, where Philips has been the trusted lighting partner for 16 years, to living rooms all over the globe, where Philips Hue will transform and illuminate gatherings with 16 million vibrant colors, those ringing in the new year will be surrounded by light that inspires.“Bringing together the connected lighting experience that Philips Hue offers with the Times Square Ball drop - one of the most well-known lighting moments in the world – demonstrates the possibilities to create immersive and memorable moments with light”

For the first time, Philips Hue users can experience the Times Square Ball festivities live at home through an immersive blast of color by syncing their Philips Hue lights to the Ball as it drops. With a new feature in the Hue Fireworks for Philips Hue app, developed by iMakeStuff, Philips Hue lights will follow the changing Philips LED bulbs used in the Ball as 2015 becomes 2016. Simply select the Times Square Ball feature in the Hue Fireworks app, available in both the Apple and Android stores for $1.99, and join the final two minute countdown to experience the same dynamic, color-changing fun that illuminates Times Square.

“Bringing together the connected lighting experience that Philips Hue offers with the Times Square Ball drop - one of the most well-known lighting moments in the world – demonstrates the possibilities to create immersive and memorable moments with light,” said Amy Huntington, President of Philips Lighting Americas. “The adoption of connected lighting among consumers is accelerating and changing how people interact with light throughout their home. With Philips Hue, it has never been easier to change your lighting experience throughout the day and easily move between everyday livings to celebratory moments like New Year’s Eve.”

With Philips Hue, the leading connected lighting system for the home, turn on your imagination to make 2016 New Year’s celebrations an extraordinary experience. Sync to favorite music and turn any room into a dance floor, transform the home and illuminate any space with over 16 million colors or access more than 450 third-party apps that can bring celebrations to the next level.

The modern lighting technology that Philips provides in the Times Square Ball is similar to the technology that makes Philips LED lighting in consumer homes possible. The Times Square Ball is illuminated with 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs, grouped in 672 modules of 48 bulbs each. Each module contains 12 red, 12 blue, 12 green and 12 white LED bulbs that can create a palette of more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns.

Share Your Celebratory Moments

This year, leading up to New Year’s Eve, Philips is asking people to share their personal, celebratory moments for a chance to win Philips LED lighting product bundles. Post a photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram showing how light enhances your celebratory moments using #MyPhilipsNYEMoment #sweepstakes. Entries will be judged based on the quality of the photo and how light plays a part in the captured celebrations, no matter what lighting source is used. Visit the Philips website for details on the Grand Prize, three runner-up prizes, and complete prize details and contest rules.

About Philips Hue

The extensive Philips Hue connected ecosystem includes Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus, portable luminaires such as Philips Hue Go, dual-lighted fixtures such as Philips Hue Beyond, control devices such as Philips Hue tap and Apple Watch as well as bulbs and down lights. Philips Hue now integrates with Apple HomeKit and Works with Nest programs, making light even more essential in the smart home. For more info on the Philips Hue growing range of products and apps, to see some of the light scenes created by the Philips Hue community, and to purchase Philips Hue visit: www.meethue.com.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2014 sales of EUR 21.4 billion and employs approximately 106,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.