SBS turns on Eurovision Radio, announces judges

SBS has kicked off its coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest with the launch of SBS Eurovision Radio.

Until the close of the contest on May 14, it will broadcast the official Top 100 Eurovision hits of all time 24 hours of the day, as voted by Australians.

Listeners can tune in on SBS Radio 4 on digital radio or stream online or via the SBS Radio App downloaded from iTunes or Google Play.

BBC World Service programming then resumes on SBS Radio 4 from May 15.

SBS Eurovision Radio will also stream live the semi-finals and the grand final from Kyiv.

Wednesday May 10 @ 5am (AEST) – First semi-final live

Friday May 12 @ 5am (AEST) – Second semi-final live

Friday May 12 @ 7:30pm (AEST) – First semi-final (Prime-time telecast)

Saturday May 13 @ 7:30pm (AEST) – Second semi-final (Prime-time telecast)

Sunday May 14 @ 5am (AEST) – Final live

Sunday May 14 @ 7:30pm (AEST) – Final (Prime-time telecast)

Last year, the inclusion of Dami Im, who came second, drew an average overnight metro Australian audience of 407,000 over the four hour show which began locally at 5am. Over 500,000 tuned in to see Ukraine’s Jamala crowned the winner. SBS claims a total of 1 million Australians watched the two semi-finals and final.

In 2015 when Guy Sebastian performed and ranked #10, the prime time replay of the grand final drew 592,000 metros while another 263,000 watched it from 5am, presumably as part of the many Eurovision parties held around the country. The 2014 grand final had an average of 476,000.

It’ll be interesting to see if figures rise because there are two Australians competing, Isaiah Firebrace as Australia’s entrant and Anja Nissen representing Denmark.

SBS is said to be paying $1 million to Eurovision organisers to participate as well as a broadcast fee. These growing figures vindicate its urgency for investment.

This year it’s brought in two new hosts, Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey.

Half of the vote is decided by a jury from each participating country, with the rest on public vote.

Australia’s Eurovision jury for 2017 is performer and ABC radio presenter Lucy Durack, Jordan Raskopoulos of musical comedy group The Axis of Awesome, classical music conductor and composer Stephen Capaldo, cabaret performer and comedian Jackie Loeb and entertainment events director Peter Hayward.

Tracks in the Top 100, selected from the event’s 60-year history, include Dami Im’s Sound of Silence, Austrian winner Conchita Wurst‘s Rise Like A Phoenix and Swedish singer Loreen‘s Euphoria.

SBS will present a Eurovision Top 40 special at 8:30 pm on Wednesday May 10.