Romanian national broadcaster, TVR, has announced big changes for Selectia Nationala 2018, the show which will be used to select the Romanian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
Five semi-finals and a national final will be held in six different Romanian cities. The slogan for Selectia Nationala is “Eurovision unites Romania!”
Prior to the semi-finals, an open call for songs and artists will be made in November 2017. In December, a jury will determine which songs will advance to compete in the semi-finals in January and February 2018.
The newly expanded Selectia Nationala is part of a series of programs created by TVR to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Union Day, the national holiday of Romania. The centenary will occur on 1 December 2018. Doina Gradea, Interim General Manager of TVR said:
We want to bring Eurovision shows closer to viewers from all corners of the country, in a special year for Romanians everywhere – the Centenary of the Great Union
In recent years, the Romanian national final has been organised in Brasov, Craiova, Baia Mare and Bucharest. It is still to be confirmed which Romanian cities will host shows in 2018.
In 2017, Romania reached 7th place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest with a total of 232 points. Romania received 12 points from the Moldovan jury and 12 points from the public vote in Moldova and Ireland. Some of the best Romanian performances in the contest include the 3rd place in 2005 for Luminita Anghel & Sistem, 3rd place in 2010 for Paula Seling and Ovi and 4th place in 2006 for Mihai Trăistariu with Tornero.
Source: TVR
[tw-accordion class=””]
[tw-accordion-section title=”Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest”]
Romania first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, the country had tried to participate in 1993 but failed to get through the pre-qualifying round. At the 1994 contest Dan Bittman finished 21st in the final scoring 14 points, Romania didn’t make it through to another final until 1998. Romania’s best results in the contest are two third place finishes. In 2005 Luminita Anghel & Sistem finished 3rd scoring 158 points, while Paula Seling & Ovi finished 3rd in Oslo with the song “Playing with Fire”. Romania missed the 2016 contest due to TVR being removed from the EBU.
[/tw-accordion-section]
[/tw-accordion]
