 | The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition. Each country participates via one of their national EBU-member television stations, whose task it is to select a singer and a song to represent their country in the international competition. |
| The Contest has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956 and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. It is also one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally. Eurovision has also been broadcast outside Europe to such places as Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Vietnam, and the United States, despite the fact that these countries do not compete. Since the year 2000, the Contest has also been broadcast over the Internet, with more than 74,000 people in almost 140 countries having watched the 2006 edition online. The Contest is historically known for often showcasing formulaic, orchestrated pop music. However, it has featured a vast, diverse array of songs, including such musical genres as Arab, Balkan, Breton, Celtic, Dance, Folk, Greek, Latin, Nordic, Pop-rap, Rock and Turkish. As it is a live show, the Eurovision Song Contest requires the performers to have perfected their acts in rehearsals in order for the big night to run smoothly. In addition to rehearsals in their home countries, every participant is given the opportunity to rehearse on the stage (see photo: Estonia rehearsing at the 2006 Contest) in the Eurovision auditorium. Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG will act as the official presenting sponsor of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The 53rd Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by the Serbian national broadcaster RTS. It will comprise three live televised shows in one week: the Semi-Finals on 20 and 22 May and the Final on 24 May 2008. The next Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Belgrade, Serbia in 2008, will be organized with two Semi-Finals. All countries will be grouped into two Semi-Finals, with the exception of France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Serbia, who will automatically qualify for the Final. Event: Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Date: May 20 (Tuesday), 22 (Thursday) and 24 (Saturday), 2008 Location: Radio Television Serbia (RTS) Belgrade Serbia |
| SOURCE: Eurovision Song Contest 2008 |
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