Nikolas “Nik” Wallenda  is an American acrobat, aerialist, daredevil, and high wire artist. Self-described as “The King of the Wire“, he is known for his high-wire performances without a safety net. He holds six Guinness World Records for various acrobatic feats, but is best known as the first person to walk a tightrope stretched directly over Niagara Falls on June 15, 2012; the feat was broadcast internationally. The walk came after a two-year legal battle involving both sides of the Canada-United States border to gain approval. For the walk he was required to wear a safety harness for the first time in his life.In February 15, 2012, Nik Wallenda received official approval from Ontario’s Niagara Parks Commission  to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls, a dream he had had since he was a child.The plan called for crossing the Niagara River and its 200-foot  deep gorge from the American side at Goat Island or at the smaller Luna Island, and making his way across the river to land at the Canadian side near the site of Table Rock. The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls would be behind him and to his right, while the Canadian Falls would be on his immediate left and behind.In preparation for the event, municipal authorities on both sides of the border met to discuss the long-term economic impact of the event, and how to capitalize efficiently on the large number of tourists expected at the Falls when it was held. The event was expected to bring in millions of dollars in tourist revenue on both sides of the border.The Niagara Parks Commission has stated it will be at least twenty years before another major stunt is approved.
Wallenda hopes that eventually he can make the Niagara Falls region a prominent aspect of his business. “I do plan on spending a lot of time in this community,” he told local reporters months before his historic walk. “This isn’t a one-off event where I’ll show up and do an event and be gone. I would like to make this my second home and bring a full-time show here that I would be performing throughout the season along with all my family members as well.”
The Discovery Channel had Wallenda under contract and negotiated with several of the major television networks for broadcast rights.On May 11, 2012, the American Broadcasting Company  and Lincoln Square Productions announced they had secured worldwide broadcasting rights for the event.Josh Elliott and Hannah Storm were chosen to host the coverage.In Canada, CTV’s coverage of the event, although a direct feed from ABC, invoked simultaneous substitution over ABC network broadcasts in some parts of Canada.To make the walk accessible to viewers worldwide, it was held after dark, with the first step coming at 10:16 p.m. local time (02:16 June 16 UTC).The time was also advantageous to Wallenda, as half of the volume of water going over the Falls is diverted for power generation purposes after dusk.Wallenda wore a microphone for the event which allowed Troffer to talk with him, while the public listened in, throughout the walk.