Why is Australia in The Eurovision Tune Contest when the US is not? And tips on how to watch the cult singing competitors
4 min read
The Eurovision Tune Contest is a time for artists throughout Europe to return collectively and compete in a continent-wide competitors. So why is Australia – a rustic clearly not in Europe – allowed to compete within the competitors?
Though the contestants usually signify European nations, Australia has been allowed to compete within the Eurovision Tune Contest for the final eight years, however why? The Eurovision Tune Contest isn’t just a contest for European nations. The foundations about who can take part within the contest appear fairly imprecise, however Australia was invited to affix the competition on Eurovision’s sixtieth anniversary. So does this imply that the US may presumably take part? Here is what we all know…
Why is Australia in The Eurovision Tune Contest?
The physique that governs the Eurovision Tune Contest, The EBU Reference Group (European Broadcasting Union), voted unanimously in favor of Australia’s participation within the contest in 2015.
The Chairman of the Reference Group, Dr. Frank Dieter Freiling mentioned in 2015, “Europe and Australia have loads in widespread with regard to cultural values and when a broadcaster is so dedicated to bringing nice acts to the competition, the one proper factor to do is to be inclusive.”
He continued to inform the European Broadcasting Union (opens in new tab), “That is additionally a method for a lot of Australians to re-connect with their European roots, and have a good time our shared cultural values and understanding by means of music.” Australia had participation rights to the competitors till 2023, and in October 2022, SBS confirmed Australia’s participation within the 2023 contest.[5]
The Eurovision Tune Contest is proven in Australia on SBS, an Australian broadcaster. SBS Commissioning Editor Josh Martin mentioned following the announcement in 2015, “SBS has been the house of the Eurovision Tune Contest in Australia for 35 years and we’re thrilled at this invitation to change into a extra everlasting member of the Eurovision Tune Contest household.”
He continued to say, “We’ll proceed to showcase Australia’s wonderful expertise and variety to lots of of hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout Europe and the world. It highlights the ability of music to carry individuals collectively – even from polar reverse sides of the globe. Thanks, Europe!”
Might the US be part of The Eurovision Tune Contest?
As the foundations are comparatively imprecise, and non-European nations have joined the competition, technically the US might be invited to affix. Nonetheless, that is unlikely for quite a few causes.
Firstly, the circumstances for Australia becoming a member of have been relatively uncommon and so they have been invited to affix the competitors after having a long-standing relationship with the present. Moreover, whereas different nations exterior of Europe have competed earlier than – akin to Israel and Armenia – these nations have been additionally a part of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and joined the competitors many years in the past earlier than there have been lots of of comparable singing competitions that are actually arguably extra in style.
Moreover, the US had its personal TV present known as The American Tune Contest which relies on the concept of The Eurovision Tune Contest. The present has solely existed for one season and the finale befell in Could 2022. The present was not picked up for a second season, suggesting it could not compete with the extra profitable singing reveals akin to The Voice.
Methods to watch The Eurovision Tune Contest from wherever on the planet
The Eurovision ultimate will probably be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8pm BST on Saturday within the UK. Within the US, the present will solely stream on Peacock at 3pm ET/midday PT.
If you wish to entry BBC protection otherwise you dwell in an space the place The Eurovision Tune Contest is not going to be broadcast dwell, there’s a method you possibly can nonetheless watch the celebrations. VPNs (digital personal networks) are a preferred approach to entry TV reveals solely accessible in different nations.
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(Picture credit score: Future)