National selections for the Eurovision Song Contest
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National selection refer to the process in which a participant broadcaster of the annual Eurovision Song Contest select the song and artist(s) that will represent its country in the contest.[1]
The two principal ways for broadcasters to select their entries are open selections (national finals) and closed selections (internal selections).[1] Since the introduction of semi-finals in the 2004 contest – due to the extensive amount of participants – and the rule of the "Big Five" countries (applied to the broadcasters from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom),[2][3] a wide range of broadcasters have often alternated between national finals and internal selections based on final placing at the previous contests.
National finals
[edit]
National finals are the process in which the participant broadcaster of a country gives its national audience the opportunity to choose either the song, or the artist(s), or even both, that will represent them in the contest, often combining public televoting with the vote of an expert jury.[1]
These national finals (consisting of one or more shows) can be televised or non-televised, however, most of the time they are televised as prime-time television events.[1] On many occasions, the artist is selected internally and the audience chooses a song for them through a national final. Alternatively, the broadcaster can select a song and make the public choose the artist that will perform the song through a national final.[1]
Among the most well-known national finals is Melodifestivalen, organised by Sveriges Television (SVT) in Sweden, which features six live shows (four heats, a "Second Chance" show and a final in Stockholm) in different cities across the country.[6] In 2012, over an estimated four million people in Sweden watched the final, almost half of the Swedish population.[7][8]
Another example of a long-running national final format is Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) organised by Yle in Finland; in 2018 and 2019, each participant wanting to represent Finland sent three songs to Yle, which would select the entrant, and the audience would then choose one song among the three that the selected entrant had presented to the broadcaster previously, through a televised final.[10][11][12][13] In 2020, this format was abandoned in favour of a return to the open format seen between 2012 and 2017.[14][15]
The broadcasters from Albania, Denmark, and Estonia (RTSH, DR, and ETV/ERR respectively) are the only participants that have always selected their entries via a national final. The broadcaster from Latvia (LTV) has selected all of its entries via a national final, except in 2021, when it internally selected its intended entrant for the cancelled 2020 contest. Yle has selected all of its songs via a national final, but in 2018 and 2019, the artist was chosen internally. The broadcasters from Yugoslavia (JRT) and Serbia and Montenegro (UJRT) also selected all of their entries via a national final during their existence.
Internal selections
[edit]
Internal selections are the process in which the participant broadcaster of a country appoints a committee or expert panel to select either the song, or the artist(s), or even both, without holding a public vote.[1]
Even though the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) "strongly" encourages broadcasters to hold their own national finals,[1] participants from several countries such as Russia,[17] Azerbaijan[18] and Bulgaria[19] are among those that have opted for internal selections for most of their entries in the contest. Choosing this method is also a common strategy for broadcasters after having failed to qualify for the final on several occasions.[20][21]
Participants
[edit]As of 2024,[update] broadcasters from fifty-two countries have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest at least once, and a record forty-three participated in 2008, 2011, and 2018.[22][23][24]
†
|
Inactive – countries which participated in the past but did not appear in the most recent contest, or will not appear in the upcoming contest |
◇
|
Ineligible – countries whose broadcasters have been suspended from the European Broadcasting Union and are therefore ineligible to participate |
‡
|
Former – countries which previously participated but no longer exist |
| Country | Debut year | Latest entry | National final[a] | Internal selection[a] | Absent years | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium
|
1956 | 2024 |
Eurosong
Total: 51 |
Total: 14 |
Total: 4 |
VRT (Dutch) RTBF (French)[c] |
 France
|
1956 | 2024 |
Destination Eurovision
Eurovision France, c'est vous qui décidez !
Total: 22 |
Total: 42 |
Total: 3 |
RTF (1956–1964) ORTF (1965–1974) TF1 (1975–1981) A2F (1983–1992) France Télévisions (1993–present) |
 Germany
|
1956 | 2024 |
Total: 57 |
Total: 12 |
Total: 2 |
HR (1956–1976) (ARD) BR (1977–1991) (ARD) MDR (1992–1995) (ARD) ARD/NDR (1996–present) |
 Italy
|
1956 | 2024 |
Total: 49 |
Total: 10 |
Total: 20 |
RAI |
 Luxembourg
|
1956 | 2024 |
Luxembourg Song Contest
Total: 5 |
Total: 33 |
Total: 30 |
RTL[f] |
 Switzerland
|
1956 | 2024 |
Concours Eurovision
Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow
Total: 38 |
Total: 18 |
Total: 5 |
SRG SSR |
 Netherlands
|
1956 | 2024 |
Total: 48 |
Total: 15 |
Total: 5 |
NTS (1956–1969) NOS (1970–2009) TROS (2010–2013) AVROTROS (2014–present) |
 Austria
|
1957 | 2024 |
Total: 16 |
Total: 40 |
Total: 12 |
ORF |
 Denmark
|
1957 | 2024 |
Musik Event -1995
Total: 53 |
— |
Total: 16 |
DR |
 United Kingdom
|
1957 | 2024 |
Festival of British Popular Songs
The Great British Song Contest
Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You
Total: 57 |
Total: 10 |
Total: 2 |
BBC |
 Sweden
|
1958 | 2024 |
Total: 62 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 4 |
Sveriges Radiotjänst (1958) SR (1959–1979) SVT (1980–present) |
 Monaco †
|
1959 | 2006 | — |
Total: 24 |
Total: 42 |
TMC |
 Norway
|
1960 | 2024 |
Total: 51 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 3 |
NRK |
 Finland
|
1961 | 2024 |
Euroviisukarsinta
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK)
Total: 48 |
Total: 2 |
Total: 7 |
Yle |
 Spain
|
1961 | 2024 |
Operación Triunfo (OT)
Total: 29 |
Total: 38 |
Total: 1 |
TVE (1961–2006) RTVE (2007–present) |
 Yugoslavia ‡
|
1961 | 1992 |
Opatija Festival
Total: 28 |
— |
Total: 5
|
JRT |
 Portugal
|
1964 | 2024 |
Total: 54 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 6 |
RTP |
 Ireland
|
1965 | 2024 |
National Song Contest
Eurosong
Eurosong (as part of The Late Late Show)
Total: 52 |
Total: 6 |
Total: 3 |
RTÉ |
 Malta
|
1971 | 2024 |
Malta Song for Europe
Malta Eurovision Song Contest
Total: 35 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 18 |
PBS |
 Israel
|
1973 | 2024 |
HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion
HaShir Shelanu L'Eurovizion
Total: 35 |
Total: 20 |
Total: 6 |
IBA (1973–2017) IPBC/Kan (2018–present) |
 Greece
|
1974 | 2024 |
Eurosong - A MAD Show
Total: 26 |
Total: 20 |
Total: 7 |
ERT (1974–2013, 2016–present) NERIT (2014–2015) |
 Turkey †
|
1975 | 2012 |
Total: 29 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 16 |
TRT |
 Morocco †
|
1980 | 1980 | — |
Total: 1 |
Total: 44 |
SNRT |
 Cyprus
|
1981 | 2024 |
Total: 21 |
Total: 21 |
Total: 4 |
CyBC |
 Iceland
|
1986 | 2024 |
Total: 29 |
Total: 7 |
Total: 3 |
RÚV |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina †
|
1993 | 2016 |
BH Eurosong
Total: 11 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 13 |
BHRT |
 Croatia
|
1993 | 2024 |
Dora
Total: 25 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 3 |
HRT |
 Estonia
|
1994[h] | 2024 |
Eurolaul
Total: 30 |
— |
Total: 2 |
ERR |
 Hungary †
|
1994[h] | 2019 |
Total: 13 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 14 |
MTVA |
 Romania †
|
1994[h] | 2023 |
Selecția Națională
Total: 26 |
Total: 2 |
Total: 7 |
TVR |
 Slovenia
|
1993 | 2024 |
Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije
Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA)
Total: 26 |
Total: 4 |
Total: 3 |
RTVSLO |
 Slovakia †
|
1994[h] | 2012 |
Eurosong
Total: 3 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 24 |
STV (1994–2010) RTVS (2011–2012) |
 Lithuania
|
1994 | 2024 |
Lietuvos Dainų Daina
Eurovizijos atranka
Pabandom iš naujo!
Eurovizija.LT
Total: 23 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 7 |
LRT |
 Poland
|
1994 | 2024 |
Piosenka dla Europy
Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję
Total: 13 |
Total: 12 |
Total: 5 |
TVP |
 Russia ◇
|
1994 | 2021 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 18 |
Total: 8 |
VGTRK (1994, 1996, 2008–2022) C1R (1995–2022)[i] Channel One Ostankino |
 North Macedonia[k]
|
1998[e] | 2022 |
Macedonian Selection
Nacionalen Evrosong
Za Evrosong
Total: 14 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 6 |
MRT |
 Latvia
|
2000 | 2024 |
Eirodziesma
Dziesma
Total: 23 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 1 |
LTV |
 Ukraine
|
2003 | 2024 |
Total: 17 |
Total: 4 |
Total: 3 |
Suspilne[l] |
 Albania
|
2004 | 2024 |
Total: 20 |
— |
Total: |
RTSH |
 Andorra †
|
2004 | 2009 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 15 |
RTVA |
 Belarus ◇
|
2004 | 2019 |
Eurofest
Natsionalny Otbor
Total: 15 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 5 |
BTRC |
 Serbia and Montenegro ‡
|
2004 | 2005 | Evropesma
Total: 3 |
— |
Total: 1
|
UJRT |
 Bulgaria
|
2005 | 2022 |
Total: 9 |
Total: 6 |
Total: 6 |
BNT |
 Moldova
|
2005 | 2024 |
O melodie pentru Europa
Finala națională
Etapa națională
Total: 17 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 1 |
TRM |
 Armenia
|
2006 | 2024 |
Total: 9 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 3 |
AMPTV |
 Czechia[m]
|
2007 | 2024 |
Eurosong
Eurovision Song CZ
Total: 8 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 6 |
ČT |
 Georgia
|
2007 | 2024 |
Total: 11 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 2 |
GPB |
 Montenegro
|
2007 | 2022 |
MontenegroSong
Montevizija
Total: 4 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 6 |
RTCG |
 Serbia
|
2007 | 2024 |
Internally selected composers
Beosong
Total: 12 |
Total: 4 |
Total: 2 |
RTS |
 Azerbaijan
|
2008 | 2024 |
Land of Fire
Milli Seçim Turu
Böyük Səhnə
Total: 6 |
Total: 12 |
Total: 1 |
İTV |
 San Marino
|
2008 | 2024 |
1in360
Digital Battle
Una voce per San Marino
Total: 4 |
Total: 11 |
Total: 3 |
SMRTV |
 Australia
|
2015 | 2024 |
Eurovision – Australia Decides
Total: 3 |
Total: 7 |
Total: 1 |
SBS |
Notes and references
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b The list includes years in which the country planned to participate, but later withdrew.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Italic indicates the country that planned to participate.
- ^ VRT and RTBF alternate responsibilities for the contest.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t The country initially planned to participate, but later withdrew.
- ^ a b c d e f g Did not qualify from the non-televised audio-only preselection round of 1996.
- ^ Previously as CLT.
- ^ Despite the fact that it was an internal selection, it is still considered an edition of Festival da Canção.
- ^ a b c d Did not qualify from the preselection round of 1993.
- ^ VGTRK and C1R alternate responsibilities for the contest since 2008.
- ^ ORT take over Channel One Ostankino and organized the national final and covered the travel expenses of a Russian representative to the competition instead of Channel One Ostankino due to the latter's closure.[25]
- ^ Until 2018 participated as F.Y.R. Macedonia.
- ^ Previously as UA:PBC.
- ^ Until 2022 participated as the Czech Republic.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "National Selections - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ "In a Nutshell - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ "How it works - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ "Sweden: Loreen winner of Melodifestivalen!". Eurovision.tv. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Adams, Oliver (11 March 2023). "Loreen will sing "Tattoo" for Sweden at Eurovision 2023". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Rosney, Daniel (7 March 2020). "Sweden's Melfest: Why a national Eurovision show won global fans". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "Månadsrapport Februari 2012" (PDF). MMS – Mediamätning i Skandinavien. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Lindström, Therese (12 March 2012). "Över fyra miljoner såg finalen". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ "Saara Aalto's song for Lisbon is... Monsters! - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- ^ "Tässä ovat euroviisuehdokkaat Monsters, Domino ja Queens - mikä lähtee Viisuihin? Edustuskappale valitaan suorassa lähetyksessä 3.3". yle.fi (in Finnish). 27 February 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- ^ Karhunen, Anna; Leskinen, Lauri (3 March 2018). "Monsters on UMK18-voittaja ja Suomen euroviisuedustaja – show nousee pimeydestä neon- ja laser-ilotulitukseksi". yle.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Darude announced as Finnish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 - watch and listen here the three competing songs". yle.fi. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman: Look Away on Suomen euroviisuedustaja – Ympäristöteema siivitti selvään voittoon". yle.fi (in Finnish). 2 March 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (3 June 2019). "Finland: YLE confirms participation in Eurovision 2020". esctoday.
- ^ "Finland: UMK 2020 dates announced, search for songs opens". ESCXTRA.com. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Duncan Laurence wins Eurovision 2019 for the Netherlands". Eurovision.tv. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "National Selections: Russia". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "National Selections: Azerbaijan". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "National Selections: Bulgaria". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Bulgaria's artist reveal set for November 25…suggesting plans are well underway". Wiwibloggs. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Switzerland will use an internal selection for Eurovision 2019". ESCXTRA.com. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "Belgrade 2008 - Eurovision Song Contest". Eurovision Song Contest.
- ^ "43 nations on 2011 participants list! - Eurovision Song Test". Eurovision Song Contest. 31 December 2010.
- ^ "NEWS: 43 Countries will participate and tickets will go on sale on 30th November! - Eurovision Song Contest". Eurovision Song Contest. 17 November 2017.
- ^ http://tvp.netcollect.ru/tvps/xbxqehidwdhn.pdf [bare URL PDF]
External links
[edit]
