Eurovision is probably the most popular song contest in Europe. It started in 1956 and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally. During the years, Eurovision suffered different changes in term of format and the way it is broadcast. 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 way the contest is run it is as following: each country selects a song and then at the contest the tune is performed live. What is interesting is the fact that people can't vote for their own country.The country which wins the Eurovision has the right to organize the contest next year.
In the 1950s, as a war-torn rebuilt itself, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)—based in Switzerland —came up with the idea of an international song contest whereby countries would participate in one television programme, to be transmitted simultaneously to all countries of the union.
The contest took place for the first time in Lugano, Switzerland on on 24 May 1956.Seven countries participated—each submitting two songs, for a total of 14. This was the only Contest in which more than one song per country was performed: since 1957 all Contests have allowed one entry per country.The edition of 1956 was won by the host nation, Switzerland.
The programme had different names: "Eurovision Grand Prix", "Le Grand-Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne", "Concours" and lastly "Eurovision".
The winners of Eurovision Song Contest have become famous after winning the big prize. They are: Lys Assia, Corry Brokken, Andre Claveau, Tedy Scholten, Jacqueline Boyer, Jean Claude-Pascal , Isabelle Aubert, Grethe & Jorgen Ingmann, Gigliola Cinquetti, France Gall, Udo Jurgens, Sandie Shaw, Massiel, Salome, Lulu, Lennie Kuhr, Frida Boccara, Dana, Severine, Vicky Leandros, Anne-Marie David, ABBA, Teach-In, Brotherhood of Man, Marie Myriam, Izhar Cohen& Alphabeta, Gali Atari& Milk and Honey, Johnny Logan, Celine Dion, Riva, Toto Cutugno, Carola , Linda Martin, Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan, Secret Garden, Eimear Quinn, Katrina and the Waves, Dana International, Charlotte Nilsson, Olsen Brothers, Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL, Marie N, Sertab Erener, Ruslana , Helena Paparizou , Lordi, Marija Serifovic and Dima Bilan.
WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE 2009 Eurovision Song Contest?? I'm waiting for your comments!
Information about EUROVISION IS TAKEN FROM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision
