SBS to develop Eurovision Song Contest throughout Asia-Pacific

Image: Australia’s 2015 Eurovision representative Guy Sebastian

Australia’s SBS has got the go-ahead to develop the Eurovision Song Contest concept in the Asia-Pacific. It has signed an exclusive option with the contest’s owner, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The first contest, in 2017, will be held in Australia. After that it will be hosted by other Asian cities. At least 20 countries in the region are expected to be involved.

SBS has been broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest for three decades to high ratings. Hundreds of thousands stay up overnight to see the live telecast, and more tune in for the evening repeat.

In the last two years, the partnership has strengthened with Australian acts being allowed to enter, a geographical puzzle for sure. The first was Guy Sebastian who came fifth in Vienna in 2015, this year it’s Dami Im heading to Stockholm and whose competing song is titled Sound Of Silence.

The broadcaster and production partner Blink TV will be exploring ways over the next few months to establish Eurovision in the Asia Pacific region, talking to broadcasters and sponsors.

Chairman for the Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling said: “We are excited by the fact that Eurovision’s appeal is crossing continental borders to Asian countries.

“SBS Australia has been broadcasting Eurovision for over 30 years, so we feel they are a perfect partner to build an alliance of networks with, and give Asian songwriters and artists the opportunity to perform on the Eurovision stage.“

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid thinks that bringing the contest to the region would lead to the “strengthening the multicultural ties in our region. Asia Pacific has a spectacular music culture and the perfect next step to extend the Eurovision brand, bringing its hugely popular appeal beyond Australian audiences and to the wider region.”

He added, “SBS is the home of SBS PopAsia establishing a robust reputation for Asian language programing and the greatest offering of programs and services in Asian languages of any other network in Australia. We look forward to working closely with organisations across the region and realising this amazing opportunity.

“Increasingly Australia is playing a greater role in the global community and SBS sees entertainment as one area in which we can play an active role in strengthening Australia’s ties with Asia as part of our overall commitment to reflecting multiculturalism and contributing to the social health of our communities.

“We are pleased with the very early discussions across the region and look forward to working with our neighbouring broadcasters to realise this vision.”

The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956 with the aim of uniting nations and exploring new television technology. Now 50 nations tae part in it, and the contest reaches nearly 200 million viewers in Europe each year.

Extending it to the Asia-Pacific could extend it to a viewership of 1 billion, according to Blink TV Director Paul Clarke.

“Asia has an astonishing set of musical and visual cultures, and it will make for brilliant television. Imagine – the musical virtuosity of Bollywood, the cutting edge of K-pop, and the excitement of Chinese and Japanese artists – now the biggest music consumers in the world. We are looking to build these partnerships, starting now. It’s a thrilling idea.”