Australia: Eurovision 2019 act to be selected through national final “Australia Decides”
Confirming latest rumors and reports Australia proceeds to the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with significant changes by holding a national final to select its next ESC act.
According to Courier Mail report the country will select its Eurovision representative for the first time through the national final “Australia Decides” which will take place at Gold Coast . This location was preferred over other options, as Sydney, Melbourne and other cities. The national final will take place on February 9 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Further on the newspaper elaborates on the process mentioning that the country’s national broadcaster, SBS in collaboration with Blink Tv will select the entries for tha national final and afterwards match them with the appropriate acts. The resutls will be determined by a public voting and a jury of experts. The jury will cast its votes during the week of last rehearsals , as in Eurovision. Submission of songs is underway and concludes on November 4. Blink TV official Paul Clarke stated that the plans are to turn Gold Coast in a Eurovision hotspot next February.
Late at night came the confirming official statement by SBS for the new national selection format, Eurovision: Australia Decides. From this latest update we get more information on the terms of the national selection. Composers who are interested can submit their songs that will be matched to popular singers. Composers can be only Australian citizens and as Paul Clarke stated this is a opportunity for less know composers to come forward. The deadline for submission expires on November 4 and can be proceeded through the official SBS website for Eurovision.
The national broadcaster published via its official Instagram account the trailer of the forthcoming national final , as you can watch below:
View this post on InstagramWho will represent Australia at @Eurovision 2019? This year… #Eurovision #AusDecides
In previous years, the national broadcaster selected internally the country’s Eurovision act. Althought the first years this format paid well bringing even a 2nd placing with Dami Im in 2016, in the last two editions the Australian entries start falling low on the scoreboard as the public vote seemed to turn its back to the Australian entries.
In 2018 Australia was represented by Jessica Mauboy and her entry We Got Love in Lisbon which finished in 2oth position.
What do you think of Australia’s new format of national selection? Do you think it can bring back the successful results of the first years? Stay tuned on the INFE Network for more news about the Australian national selection for Eurovision 2019.
