Australia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna. The EBU has released this news today. The participation will be a one time event, because of the 60th anniversary of the contest.
Last year, Australia took care of the interval act, but this year, they will participate ‘for real’. This means they will take part in the Grand Final, for which they are automatically qualified. Australia will also be allowed to vote in both semi finals. It is not yet certain whether the Australian people will be able to televote for their favorite entries – perhaps a jury-only voting will be used. The German voting company Digame is currently investigating all the options.
The participation of Australia takes place ‘under the same conditions as any other participant’, according to the EBU. Countries can vote for the Australian entry, which is yet to be chosen by SBS, and Australia will have a chance as any other country to perhaps win the Eurovision Song Contest. However, if Australia wins, the contest will not be held in Australia next year. “In case Australia wins, SBS will co-host the Eurovision Song Contest in a European city, together with an EBU Member Broadcaster.” (Quote from Eurovision.tv).
Stay tuned here at ESC Daily, your number 1 Australian based Eurovision news outlet! We will bring you all the news around the Australian participation as soon as it breaks. In the meantime, you can watch Julia Zemiro announce the big news in a video below!